Affectionately known as Tinkerbell, the mayfly is making an early appearance this year in South Korea.
On May 13th, online communities and social media were flooded with reports of swarms of insects in urban areas. One user shared a picture of a mayfly stuck inside a subway car, humorously captioning it “Gyeongui-Jungang Line.”
The scientific name of this insect is Ephemera orientalis. Its body length is about 0.7 – 0.86 inches. The wings are much larger than its body at 1.96 inches, earning it the nickname Tinkerbell.
The Ephemera orientalis undergo metamorphosis twice a year, in May – June and August- September. The spring brood is usually larger, and its appearance in late spring and early summer often leads to a surge of complaints.
In response to this, the Seongdong District started taking measures on May 8th after a large number of them appeared in the Seongsu-dong area. In the past, they were observed annually in areas around the South Han River, such as Deokso-ri in Namyangju. However, as the local commercial district has developed recently, the insects have been attracted to the increased lighting in the Seongsu-dong area. This year, due to the warmest April recorded since 1973, the mass emergence of the Ephemera orientalis has been earlier than usual.
However, the Ephemera orientalis is not a pest. It does not carry viruses or bacteria. Once mature, they don’t eat or drink as their mouths deteriorate. They are solely focused on mating, and after laying 2,000 – 3,000 eggs, the female dies immediately.
Moreover, the larvae of the Ephemera orientalis live in the clean water of grade 2 or higher, which indicates the cleanliness of nearby rivers. They also help the ecosystem by feeding on organic matter in the river.
However, their tendency to attach in large numbers to buildings and public facilities can cause discomfort to people. They can particularly disrupt businesses, such as restaurants and shops, by sticking to glass windows.
To avoid the mass of Ephemera orientalis, it is effective to reduce the lighting of facilities or replace white lights with yellow lights. If they stick to windows, you can knock them off with a duster or spray them with water.
