What is Chinch Bugs?
Chinch bugs prefer the heat and sun, and they like to consume St. Augustine lawns. However, they will also eat Bermuda, Bahia, Zoysia, and other grasses. They overgrow throughout your yard by sucking sap from plant bases (crowns) and stolons, then injecting a toxic chemical that stops the plant from transferring water.
How to check for chinch bugs?
If you’ve noticed brown areas on your lawn this summer, it’s most likely due to one of three things: a lack of water, Take All Root Rot (TARR), or chinch bugs.
You give your best to keep your lawn look green and healthy, but Chinch Bugs’ destructive turf munching tendencies could undo all of your hard work. Chinch Bugs cause vast patches of dead grass as a result of their damage.
If you want to be sure you have Chinch Bugs on your lawn, there are a few techniques to detect the difference between Chinch Bug damage and other possible causes of lawn damage.
- Lawn damage:
A thorough examination of your lawn can provide you with all the information you need to establish whether you have Chinch Bugs. Chinch bug damage usually appears in huge swaths with a distinct pattern. Damage to concrete usually begins around the edges and spreads outward. Chinch Bugs enjoy the heat and will congregate near heated concrete when temperatures are high. Inspect the boundaries of the areas where the discoloured grass joins the healthy green grass if you notice a dead patch of grass on your lawn. Pull back the turf with your hands to observe whether any visible Chinch Bugs are crawling on the soil surface.
- Coffee Can Test:
The “coffee can test” is an alternative method of checking for Chinch Bugs. This is done by hollowing out both ends of an empty coffee can. Push the can 2 to 3 times into the ground where you noticed discoloured grass patches. After that, you’ll need to fill the can 3/4 of the way with water. Continue to fill the container with water and keep it at the same level for up to 10 minutes. While you’re waiting, stir and agitate the water with a stick or ruler. Chinch Bugs will float out to the surface of the water if they are present on your grass.
Can I Test for Chinch Bug?
Fortunately, there’s a simple technique to tell if chinch bugs cause your problem.
- Break open a coffee can, soup can, or other metal can on both ends. (A giant can be preferable because it is easier to see and sample a greater area.)
- Instead of standing in the heart of a dead zone, choose a position along the boundaries of the damaged region. Where there is still good turf to be consumed, the bugs are most likely to be active.
- Push one end of the can as far as possible into the dirt through the grass. It’s critical to obtain a good seal on the can to hold water during the test.
- Pour water into the can. If you require adding more liquid, it’s a good idea to have your hose nearby. Look for tiny bugs. The nymphs are particularly difficult to spot, but even the adults are only about 14 inches long.
Still, Need Help?
Once you’ve confirmed the presence of Chinch Bugs, you can begin a treatment programme with our recommended products at your place and anywhere in Oviedo and Orland. You can go to our website and ensure that you know how to get rid of Chinch pests.