Everything you need to know about Chinch Bugs
Chinch Bugs are comparatively easier to recognize, but hard to locate. They are about 1/5” long with dark gray bodies and white wings on their backs. The newborns are yellow and they soon turn red as they age. They have white stripes across their bodies. Chinch bugs are common in Florida so if you have a lawn you have these bugs. If your lawn is healthy then the bugs are naturally controlled but if it starts to develop brown strips then the Chinch bug population may have gone out of control.
Your Lawn is Dinner to Chinch Bugs
You take care of your lawn, water it, and feed it with manure regularly, yet you notice damage to your lawn in some spots. In case you live in the south and have St.Augustine grass or zoysia grass then your lawn might be home to a whole pack of Chinch bugs. These creepy bugs suck your grass blades dry. They induce poison which eventually kills your lawn, hence the brown strips. But you can prevent and manage chinch bugs.
How to confirm a Chinch Bug Breakout
Chinch bugs are not easy to locate, but you can find them. If you bend down on your lawn and try to see these bugs and still can’t then try the tin can method. Cut out both ends of a tin can and push the end of the tube into the ground, pour some water and let it be for about ten minutes. If you see chinch bugs floating to the surface then you have many of these nasty bugs in your lawn. Chinch bugs vary from pink to red in color and they have white stripes across their bodies.
If your grass has brown strips that show damage in areas especially along the sidewalks then your lawn is already dinner to these bugs. Yellow or dried out dead grass spots mean you have these bugs. If you have checked for chinch bugs and you’re still not sure then call a professional before your lawn dies. You can use insect killers to prevent and kill chinch bugs, but it’s best to call in a professional to do it who knows how to use these chemicals.
Controlling Chinch Bugs
Pesticides do not work on chinch bugs since they have become immune to them. Even DDT won’t help because chinch bugs are resistant to them since the early 1950s. There are a number of insecticides that eliminate chinch bugs, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. Acephate which is made of bifenthrin and acephate has been the best insecticide that has yielded excellent results over the years in eliminating chinch bugs. This can be done by the homeowner, but it’s recommended you call in a professional to help. Talstar is the best insecticide in eliminating these bugs and turf pests such as mole crickets, ants and other lawn bugs.
For better results, water the area before applying these insecticides. Spread the insecticide equally throughout the lawn and water the area again after application. Where the population of chinch bugs is a lot, treat it every 2 weeks until you’ve killed the bugs and also the newly hatched.
One of the easiest ways to control these bugs is to make sure that the top layer of soil is moist. But the lawn should be moist and not saturated. Healthy lawns are green and the ones with a brown or yellow tone are infested with chinch bugs. If the lawn is not on even turf then peaks tend to dry of faster so it is important to maintain the moisture level. In Florida, chinch bugs are common and you might need professional help in getting rid of them. If you try things on your own it might be too late to save your lawn.
If you suspect chinch bugs, then call a professional lawn care specialist who understands lawn pests. A professional will know exactly which pesticide to use to destroy the chinch bugs and hopefully save your lawn. Use a hose end sprayer to spray Talstar liquid at the rate of ½ ounce per 1000 square feet. If you opt for granules then apply them at the rate of 25 pounds per ¼ acre and irrigate immediately after applying the insecticide. Removal of thatch is essential to eliminate the conditions that are favorable for chinch bugs to survive. Nitrogen fertilization slows chinch bug reproduction although if these are St. Augustine then they are heavy feeders and prefer fertilizer and other grasses.
To get rid of chinch bugs and get your lawn back call in a professional from the nearest agency for hep.














