Chinch bugs are pretty common, but a severe infestation can be an annoyance. These bugs come out every year and rarely go away on their own. If you find chinch bugs, you might need help from a professional pest control company.
Let’s look at what a chinch bug is, how to identify them, and what to do if you find them on your property.
What is a Chinch Bug?
A chinch bug is a common lawn pest. They are not easy to spot if you don’t know what they look like. These bugs will have a dark red or black body with white wings. They are usually about one-quarter of an inch long and look a lot like a sting bug.
Adult chinch bugs can cause incredible damage to your lawn. They use the beaks they have to suck nutrients out of your grass. They can feed on any type of grass, but they love Augustine grass, blue fescue, and zoysiagrass.
How to Identify a Chinch Bug Infestation
If you’re dealing with an infestation of chinch bugs, you will be able to tell by certain signs. Dry weather that lingers tends to put your lawn at more of a risk. These bugs tend to target unhealthy grass that may have become unhealthy due to drought.
The best way to identify a chinch bug infestation is to do a float test. You will need a garden hose, a hose-end sprayer, and a tin can or coffee can that has been hollowed to create a tube.
With these items, section off about a square yard of grass in your lawn where you think chinch bugs are found. Brown or dead patches are more likely to have them. Then, stick your can into the soil and use the hose sprayer to fill the canister three-fourths of the way with water. Keep this water level in the can for ten minutes or longer and add more water, if you need to.
If you have chinch bugs, they will float to the top and you can count them. If you find 15 bugs or more per square foot, you need to get your lawn treated.
Killing the Chinch Bugs
You will either use chemical or cultural control to get rid of the chinch bugs. Chemical treatments will reduce the activity of the bus and there are many products to consider. This can be an effective option if the infestation has gotten pretty bad.
Cultural controls will help eliminate the bugs over time. You will introduce beneficial insects and water your lawn regularly. This type of treatment can also include regular lawn treatments.
If your infestation has gotten out of hand, hiring a professional pest control team just makes sense. Professionals can help you get your chinch bug infestation under control.
With proper lawn care and the help of a good pest control team in Jacksonville, you can prevent chinch bugs from getting out of hand. Without the right help, you could end up watching your lawn become damaged by these bugs.
