Chinch Bugs: What They Are and How to Prevent Them
As the summer heat reaches its peak, you may begin to notice your lawn has developed yellow-brown patches. If there has been little rain, it is common for these patches to develop on your lawn. You may chalk these yellow patches up to the effects of heat stress taking a toll on your healthy, green lawn.
What you may not realize is that the yellow patches appearing on your lawn can also be caused by chinch bugs, who commonly make Western Pennsylvania lawns their home, feeding on your grass.
How to Identify Chinch Bugs
Fully-grown chinch bugs are roughly 1/6-inch long and are greyish black. They have small hairs around their bodies along with folded white wings. Hiding in grass and thatch, the small bugs are difficult to see and often go unnoticed.
Out of sight and out of mind, chinch bugs will feed on your grass, causing damage. The grass is their primary source of food. They also draw liquids from the blades, which results in your lawn turning yellow, then brown, and then dying. Chinch bugs feed on grasses commonly found in Western Pennsylvania such as perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and red fescue.
Why Do Chinch Bugs Thrive in the Summer?
Throughout their lifespan, the adult female chinch bug can lay hundreds of eggs every few months. When October rolls around, chinch bugs will choose an area to overwinter until the warmer temperatures of spring arrive.
Chinch bugs can commonly be found in areas that receive a lot of sunlight, making your yard the perfect place for them to reside during the hot summer months. With a chinch bug infestation, you will notice damaged turf and grass in the warmer months of July and August. Although you may think your lawn is damaged due to lack of rain or heat stress, it is possible the dead patches of grass could be caused by chinch bugs which is why it is essential to consult with an expert if you’ve noticed damage to your lawn.
Superior Lawn Care for Chinch Bug Control and Prevention
If chinch bug infestations are not controlled in May or June, they can become even worse by July, causing severe damage to your lawn. To help prevent chinch bug problems, it is vital to use a surface insect control in May and June as part of an overall, multi-step lawn application program.
With Superior Lawn Care’s five-step program, you can achieve a thick, green, and healthy lawn throughout the summer months. We service all areas in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Murrysville, Greensburg, Indiana, Wexford, Penn Township, and many other places in and around Pittsburgh. Call or contact us today to learn more about surface insect control for chinch bugs.