Chinch bugs like sunlight, so their damage is usually apparent in sunny areas of the lawn. They suck the chlorophyll out of the grass, causing it to yellow and die.
Did you know that:
- Adult chinch bugs are about 1/8 – 1/5 of an inch in length.
- An adult female can deposit 15-20 eggs per day, over a 2-3 week period.
- She likes to deposit her eggs close to where the plant contacts the soil.
- The nymphs mature in five stages over a period of about 90 days.
- Chinch bugs like open, sunny areas.
- They have piercing-sucking mouth parts used to suck out plant juices.
- Thatch provides a prime habitat for chinch bugs to feed and lay their eggs.
- Power de-thatching is a good idea to eliminate excess thatch.
The mouth parts of the chinch bug inject chemicals into the grass plant which clog the vascular system. This is done while the chinch bugs suck the juices out of the plant. The area around this puncture will yellow. Destruction in the lawn will appear as yellow heat stressed spots in the yard. These spots will enlarge as the chinch bug population increases and spreads.
Chinch bugs damaging your lawn? Call Sterling Insect & Lawn Control today @ (207)767-5555.
