Typical chinch bug habitats are agricultural crops, native grasses, weeds, and lawns. Blissus leucopterus also known as the true chinch bug is a small north american insect in the order hemiptera and family blissidae. How to manage a chinch bug infestation sod university. As the weather becomes warmer in the spring season, the chinch bugs become active and they will begin to migrate towards open grasses.
Jul 26, 2019 insects may undergo gradual metamorphosis, in which the transformation is subtle, or they can undergo a complete metamorphosis, in which each stage of the life cycle has a distinctly different appearance from the one before and the one after the current stageor they can experience something in between. Visual identification of chinch bugs can be difficult as they are no larger than 16 of an inch long. The hairy chinch bug, blissus leucopterus hirtus montandon, is the most commonly encountered pest of northern turfgrasses though the common chinch bug, blissus leucopterus leucopterus say, is occasionally found. May 09, 2017 chinch bugs are a common lawn pest that can do a lot of damage to your grass. Chinch bug feeding usually results in scattered patches of wilted grass rather than widespread damage. Spotting chinch bugs adult chinch bugs are about a quarter of an inch long and are black and white with white wings folded. The eggs, yellow when first laid, turn red before hatching. How to treat chinch bugs without chemicals with pictures.
Buy chinch bugs control product at economic price pestmall. If sorghum or corn is planted directly into infested wheat stubble, chinch bugs feeding on the stem below the soil surface may attack and kill the seedlings before emergence. Learn how to find chinch bugs and identify chinch bug damage with our chinch bug inspection guide. For about two weeks, an adult female will lay about 1520 eggs a day. Species blissus leucopterus hairy chinch bug bugguide. It will also be the focus of this particular sod university blog, although treatment usually remains consistent between the differing varieties. The hairy chinch bug kentucky bluegrass, english ryegrass, red fescues, and bent grass. With their piercingsucking mouthparts, they feed on the sap of grass plants. Chinch bugs are occasional pests of turfgrass in utah. Chinch bugs can be found throughout the united states, southern canada, mexico and central america. Lawns affected by chinch bugs are often confused with lawns suffering from drought. In florida, the southern chinch bug is a serious insect pest of st. The wings vary in length, from as long as the body to to 12 the length of the body and each bears a distinctive, triangular, black mark. The chinch bug can be a major insect pest on lawns as well as parks, industrial parks, and cemeteries in massachusetts.
How to control chinch bugs in the lawn chinch bugs can kill a lawn fast. Chinch bugs cause serious damage in the thick turf of lawns and golf courses. Chinch bugs are black with a white spot on their back between their wing pads. The hairy chinch bug blissus hirtus, the most common species in the northeast, prefers ryegrass and fescues but will attack many other lawn grasses as well. The hairy chinch bug is a common type of chinch bug in eastern canada. Chinch bug damage is often overlooked because it looks similar to drought. The adult chinch bug is about 4 mm long and black with opaque wings. Jan 17, 2011 chinch bugs undergo an incomplete metamorphosis which means they hatch from their eggs as nymph and molt as they mature into an adult. How to control chinch bugs in the lawn pests scotts. Classification explanation of names identification range life cycle remarks works cited. Commonly encountered invertebrate lawn and garden pests.
Chinche may also be used when referring to a bed bug. Chinch bugs can totally ruin a lawn in 3 weeks if no control methods are taken. The southern chinch bug is the most common one found throughout the southeast. The western chinch bug kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, fescues and zoysia grass. Apply iron sulfate in july to maintain green color without fertilizing. Chinch bugs in lawns that are heavily infested will emit a strong unpleasant odor if trod upon. It is the most commonly encountered member of the genus blissus, which are all known as chinch bugs.
Mouthparts of the southern chinch bug consist of a long, slender beak, which is held close to the midline of the underside of the insect when not feeding. Find more of our publications and books at extensionpubs. These bugs go through gradual metamorphosis which means they change from eggs, to nymphs, to adults. If you have chinch bugs, read the rest of this guide to learn how to get rid of these grassdestroying critters. Chinch bug damage has been observed in sorghum and corn fields that were over 12 mile away from wheat or other small grains. There are several chinch bugs that attack turfgrasses in north america.
Augustinegrass, and this preference has elevated the southern chinch bug to the second most expensive plant feeding arthropod in florida cherry and nagata 1997, kerr 1966. The adult chinch bug has a black body, brown to reddish yellow legs, and white wings that have a triangular black area in the middle of the outer margin. Chinch bugs of all ages have piercing mouthparts that puncture grass blades. Chinch bug nymphs and adults feed by extracting plant fluids with their piercingsucking mouthparts. Adult chinch bugs usually spend the entire winter is a hibernating behavior inside protected areas like in weeds and tall grasses. The bugs live in the thatch of lawns where they consume the sap of grass. Managing chinch bugs posted by amdro the chinch bug is a destructive pest that feeds on plants in the grass family, including agricultural crops such as corn, wheat and barley. Chinch bug eggs begin to hatch in florida during early spring and continuing well into summer. The insect gives off a distinctive foul odor when crushed. The southern chinch bug thrives during the warm, damp summer months, and infestations peak in early july kerr 1966. After hatching, the wingless nymphs are red, then orange, then black, developing a brightcolored band across their back. Chinch bug management university of nebraskalincoln. These closely related pests are very difficult to separate in the field and most people identify them by. Controlling chinch bugs begins with good cultural practices but may have to end with chemical intervention.
Chinch bug life cycle the southern chinch bug belongs to the insect order hemiptera, suborder heteroptera, and family lygaeidae. Southern chinch bugs go through gradual metamorphosis where they change from eggs, to nymphs, to adults. There are multiple species of chinch bugs that feed on turfgrasses and crop plants such as corn, sorghum and wheat. There are a variety of chinch bug species throughout the united states, and theyre usually found on dry lawns that get a lot of sun or are suffering from drought. Its wings are folded over the body and have a black triangleshaped spot on each. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. The more common species of chinch bugs and their preferred turf grasses are. Chinch bugs will overwinter and then lay eggs in the spring season.
Recognize a chinch bug chinch bugs dont exactly tap you on the shoulder and introduce themselves. Keep in mind that there could be other causes of yellow spots in st. Chinch bugs undergo gradual or incomplete metamorphosis which means there is no pupal. Southern chinch bugs are small and slender with white wings with distinctive black triangular marks. If you dont see them when you get down on your hands and knees in your lawn, try the tincan method. Chinch bugs are small pests that can damage your lawn, leaving patches of dry, dead grass throughout your turf.
Heres how to get rid of chinch bugs fast using natural and organic treatments. Mar 06, 2018 if your lawn is looking like a patchwork quilt of green and dead yellow, you may have a chinch bug problem. Chinch bugs lawn care resources weed man houston, tx. It develops through five nymphal stages before reaching. Buy products related to chinch bugs and see what customers say about chinch bugs on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Chinch bug, blissus leucopterus, important grain and corn pest belonging to the insect family lygaeidae order heteroptera. Adult chinch bugs have white wings folded over their backs, and are 4 mm. They also inject a toxin when they feed that causes the.
Adult chinch bugs are black with white wings and are 3. The hairy chinch bug is distributed through eastern canada and the northeastern united states as far south as virginia and west to minnesota. He can recognize the difference between a simple drought problem and a serious chinch bug infestation. Chinch bug practices that promote healthy lawns help to reduce the occurrence of this problematic turf pest. Read our chinch bug identification guide to learn what chinch bugs look like so you can control them with the best products and techniques to get rid of them before these pests damage your grass. Control the weed man houston, tx is a trained specialist. Lets learn more about chinch bugs, how to know you have them and how to get rid of them if they are in your yard. Chinch bug, blissus leucopterus specialized websites. Again as with billbugs, interseeding or renovating with turftype tall fescue or endophytic perennial ryegrass will help control chinch bug outbreaks. How to get rid of chinch bugs from the house hunker. Chinch bugs prefer to feed on bluegrass and fescues and thrive sunny areas and lawns with thatch. After hatching, the wingless nymphs are red, then orange, then black, developing a bright. Chich bugs damage grass by feeding on the plant juices through a needleshaped beak causing lawns to develop yellow and brown patches.
Jul 17, 2017 there are three varieties of chinch bugs that belong to the lygaeidae insect family. The southern chinch bug displays a preference for st. To counter this, apply a neonic in may when the chinch bugs are first getting started and you wont have the second generation. Practice using everyday, one word, and every day, two words, in this fun quiz with everyday example sentences. Chinch bugs use their piercing mouthparts to suck moisture from grass. Chinch bug infestations often are spotty and may be restricted to certain lawns or parts of lawns. Chinch bugs love the heat of the florida climate and prefer sunny areas. Blissus leucopterus also known as the true chinch bug is a small north american insect in the. Chinch bugs are rarely a problem when turf is kept moist and well maintained. Jan 02, 2020 to treat chinch bugs without chemicals, start by raking your lawn, then vacuuming it to try and catch the infestation before it spreads.
Chinch bugs, true bugs in the order hemiptera, can cause significant damage to midwest lawns, especially in areas that tend to be hot and dry in summer. There is a definite correlation between heavy fertilization and chinch bug damage. Though a native of tropical america, the chinch bug has extended its range to include much of north america. What do chinch bugs look like chinch bug identification. If you discover chinch bugs apply lawn insecticide click for sources.
The buffalograss chinch bug, blissus sp, is a common pest on buffalograss and resembles the hairy chinch bug. In various locations in the southern united states, such as florida, the southern chinch bug blissus insularis becomes a pest in lawns and inside homes. Alternatively, spray your lawn with a mixture of 2. Practice using everyday, one word, and every day, two words, in this fun quiz with. Nymphal and adult stages have sucking mouthparts with which they draw sap from the grass stems stolons and inject saliva. Chinch bug damage can often be confused with drought stress or lawn disease, so its crucial to learn the signs of chinch bugs and how to inspect for them in your turf. Louis area include perennial ryegrass, kentucky bluegrass, zoysia grass, bermuda grass, and tall fescue. Its white wing covers are each marked by a triangular black patch at the middle of the outer margins. Chinch bug damage can often be confused with drought stress or lawn disease, so its crucial to learn the signs of chinch bugs and how to inspect for them in.
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