Pest Identification: Chinch Bugs
These turfgrass pests can do extensive damage to your yard quickly. Chinch bugs have piercing parts in their mouths that attack and suck grass stems and crowns dry, making your yard look like it suffers from severe drought damage. Their devastation doesn’t stop there. They also release a toxin into the grass blade that prevents the plant from conducting water, causing it to yellow and wilt even after the bug has left the area. Chinch bugs can quickly kill entire patches of your lawn, if not your entire yard. Drought, or other yard stresses, can make the damage worse.
Appearance and Behavior of Chinch Bugs
There are two main types of chinch bugs, the hairy chinch bug and the southern chinch bug. The hairy chinch bug attacks turfgrasses growing in northern states and are the chinch bugs the most common to New England.
Adult chinch bugs have black bodies, reddish legs, and distinctive white triangle patterns on their wings when folded. They range from ⅛ to ⅙ inch in length. Chinch bugs overwinter as adults in protected areas, such as thatch, tall grass, or plant debris, and begin laying eggs in the spring.
Females deposit between 300 to 500 eggs on roots, lower leaves, and stems. Pink or red nymphs emerge from the eggs anywhere from seven days to 30 days, depending on the temperature. In some years, up to five generations may develop in one year. Once they hatch they immediately begin to suck the plant's sap. Recently hatched chinch bugs grow rapidly and molt five times before they mature. Their color darkens as they mature.
Chinch bugs are commonly found in the sunny parts of a yard. They move from lawn to lawn by walking and can even be seen crossing sidewalks or driveways on sunny, warm afternoons.
What To Do If You Suspect Cinch Bugs
If your grass is suffering and you are not sure why? Call the professionals at Ford’s Hometown Services at 800.649.9992. Our team can quickly assess if your yard had a chinch bug infestation and create a plan for control and prevention.
Buzzwords
The Hidden Dangers of Rodent Infestation in Your Home or Business
As a home or business owner, it is easy to dismiss the first signs of rodents as a minor inconvenience. But the truth is, the risks of rodents like rats, mice, or squirrels pose serious risks to your property, health, and finances. What starts as a single sighting can...
When the Outdoors Moves Indoors: Keeping Wildlife Out This Winter
When the temperatures drop, you might think most animals are hibernating or nesting in their natural habitats. But many types of winter wildlife don’t hibernate. Nuisance wildlife like squirrels, raccoons, and opossums stay active and seek warmth, sometimes inside...
The Lifecycle of a Mouse: From Birth to Infestation
You’ve heard the saying, “If you see one mouse, there’s always more nearby.” It’s true! Mice are social creatures that rarely live alone, meaning a single mouse sighting often signals a larger problem. Understanding the lifecycle of a mouse is key to grasping how...