Hi Kurt,
i live in Orange City Florida and i had chinch bugs in my back yard this summer. i have never had them before. They damaged quite a bit of my lawn. Do i have to replace the lawn or will it come back? When should i fertilize after a freeze? Should i put weed and feed or turf builder? Do you charge anything to come out and do an analysis? Thank you for your time.
Terrie White
Chinch Bug, Insect Control
Chinch Bug Control, Damage And Treatment
The chinch bug is the number one pest of St. Augustine Grass. It will do the most damage to your lawn in a short period of time. Without chinch bug, insect control they will damage large areas as they multiply. The chinch bug is found in St. Augustine grass from southern North Carolina south to the Florida Keys, and westward to central Texas. Chinch bug damage has been found in southern California, Mexico, and Hawaii. In Florida they begin to appear in May and continue throughout the summer.
A chinch bug will suck the sap out of the roots and the stems of the grass. At first areas with chinch bug damage will begin to turn yellow in color as irregular patches, then turn reddish brown. Blades start to curl up looking grayish and dead, roots die off as they continue sucking out the juices. Chinch bugs work there way through the healthy turf. The chinch bug loves to live in dry sunny areas that have heat or drought stress. They are found in the middle of a lawn or near and along driveways and side walks working outward. As soon as there is chinch bug damage immediate insect control is needed. Chinch bugs treatment will stop them from spreading.
Description And Development Of The Chinch Bug
Chinch bugs lay their eggs and hatch in as little as one week during the summer. First they appear as bright orange in the Nymph stage, turning dark red as they begin to mature. When fully matured reaching the adult stage they are one – fifth of an inch in length, black with white wings on their back. During this stage with no chinch bug, insect control they will do the most damage, and can fly to other locations in the lawn.
Monitoring For Chinch Bug, Insect Control, Damage
I recommend to inspect your lawn at least once a week during the summer months. Early detection and chinch bug, insect control can stop a major infestation from occurring and keeping them under control. Walk sunny areas throughout your yard especially along the edges of pavement where they can begin to do damage. If you notice any signs of a problem get close to the ground and seperate the blades of grass with your hands looking around and under the roots. When exposed to the sun a chinch bug will run to get out of it and you can see them. In heavy infestations they can be seen crawling over the blades. If you don’t find any chinch bugs it could be a sign of lack of water. I recommend treating extreme dry areas that have become noticeable with chinch bug, insect control. Dry areas is where they tend to lay their eggs.
Chinch Bug Elimination
The best way to get rid of them is to treat with liquid TALSTAR insecticide, soaking the area in and around it. Granular does work but needs to be thoroughly watered in right away. Blanket treating your lawn is helpful for chinch bug, insect control but there is no guarantee they will not pop up. By monitoring your lawn on a regular basis and knowing how to identify the problem is the best method for control. Following proper lawn maintenance like watering, mowing,and fertilization can reduce the chances of the chinch bug in St. Augustine grass.
As you can see at the first sign of damage, chinch bug, insect control is needed. Controlling chinch bugs will stop them from eating up your St. Augustine grass. Knowing how to identify the chinch bug and damage, is the first step in stopping an infestation.
Kurt Kmetz
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7 comments - add yours
Terrie White
January 17, 2010
Kurt
January 24, 2010
Hello Terrie,
St. Augustine grass can grow back in warm weather, but it will happen slowly. In your situation wait until springtime and install grass plugs or sod. Fertilize with turf builder after winter is over. If using a weed and feed always wait 30 days after installation to apply. I wish I could give you a lawn analysis, but live in the Clearwater Beach area.
Thanks,
Kurt
Hilary
April 9, 2010
Do chinch bugs also eat Bahaia? My neighbor’s lawn was constantly getting eaten up. He replaced the St. Augustine with Bahaia but without treating the chinch bug issue. He said he didn’t need to because they don’t feast on Bahaia. However, he is now getting the same large brown spots which are growing bigger each day, just as when he had the St. Augustine. I’m just wondering if the chinch bugs could be the problem.
Alexandra Padden
September 2, 2011
I live in Sarasota, Fl. I have chinch bugs in my front yard and in a small section of my back yard. We have always had a beautiful lawn and now it looks horrible! I have sprayed with an insecticide, twice, and spread granulars, twice, and watered them into the lawn. What is the next step??? Should I start fertilizing? Will I have to replace my yard??? Help!!! Thanks
Kurt
September 4, 2011
Alexandra,
I would first check the areas that you treated to see if the chinch bugs were eliminated since eggs could have hatched new ones. If you find any treat area again. My article on Chinch Bug, Insect Control will help you in identifying them. Keep monitoring your lawn to see if any have spread to other locations. Depending on the size of the damaged areas are will determine what needs to be done. If it is a very small area you can fertilize and St. Augustine grass will grow back with new runners from the root system, but will take some time to fill it in. You can also plant grass plugs to replace small areas. For large areas I recommend installing sod. Continue a program of treating your entire lawn with insecticide labeled for chinch bugs every 6 weeks to help control any further insect problems.
Kurt
monica
December 30, 2011
hello, kurt,
i has read so many of these questions to you, i have my own, my husband will not listen to me and all the lawn lied last year we are only here two and a halt yrs now and have to re do the lawn costing us the money we didnt have, now, my husband have this lawn guy who has been looking after the lawn since febuary and he said there are chinch bugs he showed them to my husband but froma few feet it is now many feets so yelow and browning in the front some and the back loads, please tell me what shall i do and i will do it to save our lawn and stop paying this guy every month and the grass is still dying nearly a yr and nothing getting worst. please help?
Kurt
December 30, 2011
Monica,
I fully understand the concerns that you have. You should not have to continue to keep replacing large areas in your lawn. However, even if a lawn is treated by a lawn care company there is no guarantee that problems will not occur, especially chinch bugs. How severe the problems become is determined by certain factors. Some factors to be considered are the following: 1. How often is the lawn serviced? For best results it should be done 8 times a year,(which is usually every 6 weeks). 2. How soon are the problem areas treated after they become noticeable?(the longer left untreated the worst they become). 3. Are the proper chemicals being used to treat the areas to be effective? 4. Are the chemicals being applied correctly? (proper rate of application and coverage)… These are some of the factors that will determine how quick problems are controlled, and stopping areas from becoming large. That is why it is important to hire a reputable state certified professional lawn care company, one that is also licensed and insured. If you are not happy with your service contact the manager and explain your concerns. If you don’t get the response you deserve… find another company. Customer service is most important. Perhaps your local county extension service can help you find a reputable lawn service. If you see lawns in your neighborhood that always look good that are being serviced by a lawn company, when they are treated the company(by law)will put a sign at the edge of the lawn by the street with their phone number on it…call them for an analysis and estimate.
Kurt
