Monday, April 16, 2012

How Do Chinch Bugs Damage Grass?

Chinch bugs are a complex of three different species within the Lygaeidae family. Mature chinch bugs are approximately one-fifth of an inch long. They are black with white wings folded over their backs. When temperatures reach 70 degrees, the insect mates. Laying eggs over a two to three week period, the female can lay as many as 500 eggs on the roots, stems, leaves, leaf sheaths or crevices and protected areas of the grass.

Young chinch bugs, called nymphs, are yellow upon hatching and will mature in four to six weeks. At maturity, they turn red and have a light colored band across their abdomens. With each molt, nymphs more closely resemble the adults. There are 2 to 4 generations per year.

Chinch bugs cause serious damage in the thick turf of lawns and golf courses in Orlando and the surrounding cities. Their piercing-sucking mouthparts allow them to will feed by inserting their slender beak into the grass. As the chinch bug sucks the plant juices, it releases a toxin that causes yellowish to brownish patches in turf. In many cases, dying or dead areas of a lawn can signal the presence of this pest. Proper pest control can help avoid infestations.

Chinch bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts and will feed by inserting their slender beak into the grass. As the chinch bug sucks the plant juices, it releases a toxin that causes yellowish to brownish patches in turf. Typical injury appears as spreading patches of brown, dead grass.

This pest is a sunshine-loving insect and seldom attacks grass in a dense shady area. Discolored areas caused by chinch bug feeding that are in open sunlight several hours daily may be "hot spots" for chinch bug damage. Most homeowners will first notice dead patches of grass along a driveway, curb, sidewalk or foundation of the home, due to the heat emitted from such objects.

To detect chinch bugs, examine the grass at the edge of any damaged area, avoiding the areas that are have completely dead grass. Separate the grass gently with your fingers and look near the surface of the soil in the thatch. Because chinch bugs are usually very active in the summer, you would be able to see them moving around, especially on warm summer days.

If you discover you have a chinch bug problem, the best solution is to hire a professional pest control company to control lawn pests. Miller Enviro-Care can help Orlando residents and businesses prevent future chinch bug infestations and eliminate any current pest problems quickly and easily.

Miller Enviro-Care has over 30 years of combined experience in Pest Prevention, Termite Protection, Irrigation Systems, Sod Supply and Lawn Care Solutions. Based in Oviedo, we are in business to protect the health, food, property and quality of our environment for customers throughout the Orlando area including, but not limited to Winter Springs, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Maitland, Lake Mary, Sanford, Apopka and Winter Park.

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