"Bugs Hanging in Clusters Fall Like Rain"…The Attack of the 'Daebeolle' Swarm

YTN News Capture

YTN News Capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] A swarm of walking sticks has appeared in a park area located in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, causing inconvenience to residents.

On the 18th, YTN reported on the swarm of walking sticks that appeared at Bongsan Haemaji Park in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. According to the footage released by the media, walking sticks are densely attached to the benches and wooden pillars of the park pavilion used by residents, and they have also occupied the CCTV cameras. Furthermore, they have taken over the hiking trail floor.

Nearby residents expressed their discomfort, saying, "The insects fell down like rain," and "When sitting on the bench, they stick to clothes. When men stand on exercise equipment, the insects climb up their backs."

Walking sticks, which at first glance look like twigs, usually lay about 700 to 800 eggs. Most spend the winter in the egg stage, hatch in spring, and live until November.

Experts suggest that the unusually large outbreak of walking sticks is not only due to higher temperatures last winter increasing the egg-laying rate but also because they suffered less damage from natural predators.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.