Introduction to Chinch Bugs:

Southern Chinch Bugs (Blissus insularis) are common pests of St. Augustine grass.They can cause significant damage to grass during summer. They can feed on other grasses such as zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass but they typically feed on St. Augustine. They damage grass by feeding on the phloem sap of the plant and injecting a toxin that results in the death of plant tissue. Chinch bug damage will result in irregular patches of yellowing turf that may spread outward and ultimately result in plant death.

Chinch Bug Identification:

The adult southern chinch bug is 3-3.6mm in length with a black body and white wings.Its wings are folded over the body and have a black triangle-shaped spot on each. Lifecycle: Chinch bugs develop through three different stages: Egg, nymph, and adult.

Lifecycle:

Chinch bugs develop through three different stages: Egg, nymph, and adult.

These bugs overwinter as adults in protected areas such as under shrubs, in leaf litter, and in thick thatch layers. In the spring, the overwintering chinch bug adults resume feeding on new turfgrass growth and at the same time start mating. After mating, females begin laying eggs. During a life span of usually 40 to 50 days, each female lays over 300 eggs on the grass leaves or stems near the ground.Under optimal temperatures, eggs hatch within 7-15 days. Immediately after hatching, chinch bug nymphs start feeding on grass foliage. While feeding on grass over the period of 4 to 6 weeks, nymphs molt five times, go through five stages (instars) of development and become adults (6th stage). These adults begin mating and start laying eggs then the cycle continues. We can have up to 3 to 6 generations each year.

Control:

Check for chinch bug infestation on the grass blades at the edges of affected areas. If there are signs of damage and active chinch bugs, treat affected areas with EcoSmart Granules applied at 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Reapply every four to six weeks as needed.

Recovery:

Once the chinch bug damage has been stopped, repairing the damage needs to be addressed. A good organic fertilizer like MicroLife Multi-Purpose 6-2-4 will help ensure the proper nutrient availability for the grass. For faster recovery, spray Molasses and Humic Acid mixed at the rate of 6-9 ounces per gallon of water or our pre-mixed MicroLife Soil & Plant Energy.

Prevention:

Prevent drought stress on your lawn with efficient irrigation when needed. Make the lawn a haven for beneficial predator insects, such as big-eyed bugs and birds by avoiding the wide use of landscape chemicals. Chemical lawn fungicides damage fungi (such as Beauveria spp) that feed on the overwintering chinch bugs. Using chemical fungicides in the Fall can have the unintended consequence of protecting chinch bug populations leading to more infestations and damage. Build up water storage capacity and biology in the soil with organic matter such as MicroLife Humates Plus and compost.

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Sources:

https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/turfgrass-insects/chinch-bugs/  https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Watershed/growgreen/factsheets/lawnproblems.pdf  https://blog.bugsforgrowers.com/pests/turfgrass/natural-enemies-can-take-care-of-chinch-bugs/