Chinch Bugs: The New Pest In Town

Up from the depths, a ⅕" long, black-bodied insect with folded white wings may be the only warning sign you have before your lawn begins to take a turn for the worse.

The chinch bug is an invasive insect that has only recently begun to call the State of Utah home. After four to six weeks, the fragile yellow nymphs slowly begin to turn red, formulating a distinctive white stripe across their exoskeletons. As they start to reach maturity, these ravenous insects will begin to feast upon all your hard work, reducing it to nothing. No matter if you call them ‘gnats,’ ‘small box elder bugs,’ or ‘elm seed bugs,’ it all means the same thing: the chinch bugs are here. 

False chinch bugs are a slightly different matter. While both the true chinch and the false chinch reside in the same order of seed bug, false chinch bugs are much more common and far less problematic. After wet springs and heavy rainfall, groups of these bugs will swarm plants in the mustard family (mostly weeds) before dying back down in less than a week. The true chinch bug, though, is far more dangerous.

Chinch Bug Blues

These semi-new insects have begun to cause a number of problems for those of us living in the west, many of them are major concerns for homeowners around the state.

Chinch bugs feed on green plant matter by using their micro-dermic proboscis to pierce the tender leaves and stalks. Over time, they will begin to drain the life-giving juices from the plant, turning it yellow. If prolonged attacks or large swarms of chinch bugs consistently feed in the area, plants may die completely. 

Chinch bugs have several favorite plants, including corn, sorghum, and even your grassy lawn. Patches of yellow, drought-like spots will gradually worsen and begin to turn brown. Without immediate treatment, grass will require re-seeding.

Weather patterns continue to show that hot, rainy summers and wet springs worsen the issue and allow chinch nymphs to grow much faster.
 
Without the proper preventative measures, these small bugs can destroy an entire lawn for good.

Pickett Pest Control Makes Chinch Treatment a Cinch!

Insects like the chinch bug can be devastating to a yard, but your situation doesn’t need to be that way. If you’re prepared to start monitoring your lawn for chinch bug activity and want to learn more about how to exterminate these bugs, give the professionals at Pickett Pest Control a call today. Don’t leave your garden at the mercy of these creepy crawlies. Contact us now.