The Landscape Alert
An Outreach of the Center for Urban Agriculture - www.gaurbanag.org
- Is it Safe to Apply Herbicides During Spring Green-Up of Turfgrasses?
- Potential for Frost across Georgia Looming Early Next Week
- Ground or Digger Bees Attack Landscapes
- Azalea Lace bugs Best Controlled Early in the Season
- Ambrosia Beetles: An Early Season Tree & Shrub Threat
- Southern Red Mite
- Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Found in Forsyth County
- Florida Betony Control
- Fall Management of Large Patch Disease in Turfgrass
- Lantana Lace Bug Control
- Prevent White Grubs in Turf Now!
- Protect Landscape Trees Now from Drought Injury
- It is Time to Control Mole Crickets!
- Check St. Augustine Lawns Now for Chinch Bugs!
- Powdery Mildew in the Landscape
- Take All Root Rot Damages Centipede and St. Augustine Lawns
Check St. Augustine Lawns Now for Chinch Bugs!
Adapted from materials from Will Hudson, UGA Extension Entomologist & information from the UGA Entomology Department at http://lpm.uga.edu/turf/chinchbugs.html
June 24, 2008
Chinch bugs have become more of a threat to lawns in the past few years. Dry weather may be making lawns more susceptible to chinch bugs. Inspect now for chinch bugs before these insects yellow and kill the lawn.
Watch for damage
Typical chinch bug injury can begin as yellowing grass followed by spreading patches of straw-brown, dead grass. St. Augustine grass is the most seriously injured but zoysia, Bermuda, Bahia, and centipede grasses are also attacked. Chinch bug infestations and damage are often first noticed during hot dry periods in sunny areas of the lawn or at the edge of the lawn.
Look for the insects to diagnose the problem!
Scout for chinch bugs before you see damage. Once chinch bugs attack a lawn, they can kill it quickly.
Adults are about 1/5 inch long and dark gray to black. The wings are folded over the back forming a white or silver cross-shaped mark. The young nymphs are from 1/20 to 1/5 inch long and vary in color from reddish or pink with a white band across the back. Their color changes to gray or black as they become adults. Chinch bugs occur throughout Georgia. For a photo see http://lpm.uga.edu/turf/chinchbugs.html
Life Cycle and Biology
The eggs are laid in leaf sheaths or nodes and other protected places. Young chinch bugs develop into adults in four to six weeks. There are three to four generations a year. Chinch bugs insert their beak into the grass and suck plant juices.
How do I know if I need to treat?
Chinch bugs are quick and hard to catch. Search in the green grass at the edge of a dead patch. Part the grass quickly and pull back the thatch down to the soil. If you do not see them, pull up a handful of grass including the thatch and runners. Lay it on a table or put it in a plastic bag and see if chinch bugs crawl out. Next, gently pull off the leaves and see if chinch bugs are hiding where the grass blades come together at the base of the plant.
A common method of determining numbers of chinch bugs present is the "flotation technique". A coffee can, or similarly sized can, with its ends cut out, is pushed two to three inches down into the green turf at the edge of a suspected area of chinch bug infestation. The can is filled with water and kept full for about five to seven minutes by adding more water. A level of 20 to 25 chinch bugs per square foot can cause damage. Repeat this monitoring technique in several spots at the edge of the suspected area to find the bugs.
Cultural practices can help manage chinch bugs but pesticides are often necessary since these insects kill lawns quickly.
- Use little nitrogen in the hot, humid summer months and use slow release fertilizers. Over-fertilization with nitrogen can make chinch bugs worse.
- Water deeply about once a week applying three quarters to one inch of water each time. Water between midnight and 10:00 a.m.
- If the thatch layer is thicker than one inch, dethatch the lawn in May or June.
Chemical Control - Treat immediately if populations are at or above the damage threshold mentioned earlier. Chinch bugs can quickly destroy a lawn!
- Do not apply pesticides to turf in dry soil to avoid chemical injury. Irrigate the lawn several hours to a day before treating.
- Very important - Spray pesticides using lots of water (4 to 5 gallons per 1000 sq. ft.) to get the chemical down to the insects.
- See this site for pesticide recommendations - You may have to treat twice 2 to 3 weeks apart for control.
- Read and follow all label directions when using any pesticide.
For more information:
Diagnosing Problems of St. Augustinegrass
Chinch Bugs in St. Augustine (Texas Extension Service – with photos)
Call your local Extension Agent at (800-ASK-UGA1) or Locate your local Extension Office