Plecia longiforceps is a small black fly with a red back, native to southeastern China and Taiwan; it doesn't live in the US. Since 2022 it has swarmed the Seoul area of South Korea every early summer, where people call it the 'lovebug.' America's own lovebug is a close relative, Plecia nearctica, found along the Gulf Coast and in Florida.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A small black fly with a red . Mating pairs fly joined tail to tail.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Subtropical woodland
- Suburban forests and parks
- Range
- Native to warm woodlands of southeastern China and Taiwan, and recorded from Japan's Yaeyama Islands. In South Korea, mass outbreaks around Seoul, Incheon, and Goyang began in 2022. It does not occur in the US.
- Preferred conditions
- Larvae live in groups in decaying leaf litter and soil.
Behavior
- Diet
- Adults sip flower nectar. Larvae feed on decaying leaves and wood.
- Activity
- Active by day. Pairs fly slowly and unsteadily, and the flies show little fear of people, often landing on clothing, cars, and walls.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- In South Korea there is one generation a year, with adults out mainly from mid-June to early July. In southeastern China and other warm parts of its range it has two generations a year.
- Larva
- Eggs are laid in decaying leaf litter and soil. Larvae spend the winter there and pupate in early summer.
- Lifespan
- Adults live only about a week.
Name and classification
- About the name
- A fly named Plecia sinensis from mainland China was shown in 2015 to be the same species.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.