Chinch Bug Overview
With several species that exist all over the United States, Chinch bugs are bothersome for lawns and landscapes because they cause exceptional damage to turf grass. They also love to feed on corn, rice and sorghum. Chinch bugs are mostly found on dry and stressed lawns with young plants and grass. They use a sharply pointed mandible to extract the sap and insert a toxic substance that restricts the plant from carrying water.
GET A QUOTE NOWAppearance
An adult chinch bug measures approximately 1/4 inch long, a black body with fully developed greyish wings with triangular dark patches at the outermost margins. They have an antenna and 3 pairs of legs similar to nymphs.
A nymph is bright red in color with a white band across its back. It slowly changes color from red to black and grows wings as they reach maturity. Bother adults and nymphs release a strong unpleasant odor when they are crushed or when they come in large groups.
Life of Chinch Bugs
Adult chinch bugs spend their winter in weeds and grasses before starting to become active in the spring. During the spring season or early summer, the bugs mate and females begin depositing eggs on the leaves or stem of the grass. An adult female can lay more than 500 eggs and will be hatched after 1-3 weeks. The wingless nymphs emerge and will go through 5 stages of development before completely turning into adults which can take up to a month. The life-cycle may occur within 6 weeks or longer depending on the temperature and 2 or more generations can happen yearly.
Main Service Areas For Chinch Bug Removal
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Boca Raton Chinch Bug Control
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Boynton Beach Chinch Bug Control
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Lake Park Chinch Bug Control
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Lake Worth Chinch Bug Control
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Palm Beach Gardens Chinch Bug Control
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Palm Beach Chinch Bug Control
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Palm Springs Chinch Bug Control
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Riviera Beach Chinch Bug Control
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South Bay Chinch Bug Control
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South Palm Beach Chinch Bug Control
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West Palm Beach Chinch Bug Control
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West Lake Chinch Bug Control
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Coral Springs Chinch Bug Control
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Fort Lauderdale Chinch Bug Control
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Pompano Beach Chinch Bug Control
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Coconut Creek Chinch Bug Control
Damages
A chinch bug-infested lawn may show signs of yellow or drought-stressed spots in the yard. Infestation normally occurs during the hot and dry weather from June to September. Large yellow to brown patches will appear as the grass dies usually starting on the border of the lawn and will eventually become bigger in size even if watered properly. When the infected host plant dies, these bugs will move to the neighbor searching for new host plants.
Control Methods
Controlling the chinch bugs can also mean maintaining your lawns regularly. Mow it at the recommended height, improve soil fertilizer and keep it well-watered. If an area is heavily infested sprinkle diluted dishwashing liquid to itch the chinch bugs away. For small areas, using organic soap is a safe solution. This will cause dehydration that slowly kills the turf pests. If none of the mentioned methods work, remember to get a hand from a reliable pest control professional near your area.
Licensed, Trusted Pest Control Services
At Fleming Lawn and Pest Services, we protect your home or business with superior care. Unlike the “Big Pest Control companies” we don’t pay our technicians based on how many locations they treat in a day.