Summer time is creeping on us, and along with that comes summer time insects. Most active in late June through early September is the Chinch Bug. Chinch bugs can destroy a lawn in weeks. They eat the grass from the roots, and their eggs hatch a week after being laid. The nymphs start out yellow, then turn red as they grow, and eventually become black as they reach maturity. They can mature in about 4 to 6 weeks. The adults are then about 1/5 of an inch long with black bodies and white wings folded across their backs. Considering that they are easy to recognize but hard to see!
Grass attacked by chinch bugs looks like grass suffering from drought. The grass blades wilt, turn yellow-brown, then dry and die out. They can cause major damage to lawns by sucking the grass blades dry and injecting them with poison. They use their piercing mouths to suck the moisture from the grass blades. Then the poison they inject will interrupt the water movement within the grass causing it to die.
The early stages of chinch bug damage start with it turning yellow then to brown before it dies. As the grass dies chinch bugs will move to the perimeter of the dead grass, causing dead patches of grass to spread outward. What starts as a small patch of dead grass will quickly grow larger. One way to tell if you have chinch bugs and not drought is if the grass does not green up after being watered. If the grass remains dead, you might have chinch bugs.
Chinch bugs thrive in the southern United States and prefers St. Augustine and Zoysia grass. The damage typically occurs in the sunniest part of the lawn, especially when the weather is hot and dry. They love thick and lush lawns because it offers a great place for adult chinch bugs to feed and lay eggs. So, the healthiest lawns are usually the ones most at risk! If you start to notice your lawn deteriorating its always good to call a professional. Here at Palm Coast Pest Control we’re here to help you!
