When chinch bugs are young, they are a red color but as they mature to adults, they turn black and have a white spot on their back in the shape of an “X.” Adults grow to be about a quarter inch long. I had similar damage in 2018, and while it may have been chinch bugs, I never determined it for certain. It can also be tricky to identify chinch bug damage because chinch bugs are prone to attack lawns that have drought stress. Chinch bugs thrive in dry weather. in length. This is understandable, due to two considerations: Drought is a contributing factor to infestations of chinch bugs, and drought is a bigger problem in the South than in the North. The Hairy Chinch Bug is one of these pests that causes very generic damage to lawns during the hot season, making identification next to impossible for the untrained eye. The damage looks quite similar to drought symptoms, but of course, watering does not remedy the problem. These bugs are very tiny and damage the grass in your yard the same way drought does. If it greens up, then it was damage because of the drought. A good way to check for chinch bugs is to remove both ends of a tin can. These methods include: 1. Chinch Bugs are an insect that suck all the life out of the blade of grass (much like children sucking the energy out of their parents). Ask A Pro: 866-581-7378 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET Live Chat Contact Us. Chinch bug damage is usually first detected when irregular patches of turf begin to turn yellow then brown. Nufarm's Rod Marquardt discusses chinch bug damage, detection, and control in turf. Chinch Bug Signs and Symptoms. The southern chinch bug thrives during warm, damp periods and infestations generally peak in early July. Distant: Patches of turf turning brown in July or August. Chinch bugs are devastating and the damage they do looks similar to that caused by drought, making it hard for homeowners to tell the difference and respond appropriately. Hold one opening the tin can on the lawn and create a seal with the soil. «« Return to Insect List. The youngest larvae are brick red with a transverse white band in the back; larger larvae are … They suck the sap out of your grass and brown it out! A good way to check whether it is drought damage or chinch bug damage is to simply water the lawn. This allows Southern chinch bugs to spend less time in dormancy and more time … This is especially important as we experience the worst drought in over a century, as confirmed by the Gainesville Sun. When they first hatch they are red but darken as they mature. Chinch bug damage in St. … B. Royals, NC State University × Figure 3. If you suspect a chinch bug infestation, inspect your yard and treat with an insecticide. Chinch bug damage also can be difficult to distinguish from that caused by drought. Left untreated, chinch bugs will continue to damage and kill grass well into late fall and will reappear next spring. Extreme heat and drought conditions, however, can reduce the number of beneficial insects that prey on chinch bugs; when this occurs, chinch bugs … Chinch bug damage in St. Augustinegrass. Fast Free … The damage caused by chinch bugs appears quickly. The damage caused by chinch bugs appears quickly in hot weather. Chinch Bugs are small insects that grow to about 4mm. The grass may turn brown and die if feeding continues unchecked, and a severe infestation of chinch bugs can … Chinch bugs can do more than damage your lawn. Billions of dollars’ worth of damage occur to St. Augustine grass every year thanks to the Blissus insularis Barber, commonly called the chinch bug. Drought stress and Chinch bug damage not only look similar, but they also compound each other because of how a chinch bug feasts on your lawn. Damage caused by chinch bugs is likely to be close to concrete because concrete radiates heat. Drought or heat stress may cause similar browning of turf, but proper watering will quickly rejuvenate the lawn. Sometimes the damage caused by these pests is misdiagnosed as brown patch or drought. Winter frost and drought damage can sometimes be mistakenly diagnosed as southern chinch bug feeding in the spring. Arena® Insecticide offers rapid, effective control with a long residual to combat these insects. Yours appears decimated in some areas. The damage resembles drought stress, but turf damaged from chinch bugs … A … Weak areas of drought stress are an easy target. Thus, the grass should be carefully examined to determine which corrective measures … So you are much more likely to find chinch bugs causing damage in late July and August when the weather is hot and dry. Did you know the damage from both looks very similar? One of the ways of chinch bug damage. Damage generally occurs during hot, dry weather from June into September. Adult southern chinch bugs are small and slender, measuring ⅙ to ⅕ of an inch long. Regardless of the cause, I would strongly consider dormant seeding with the same grass type or mix, after you ID it. The damage caused by chinch bugs … After water needs are corrected pick an insecticide labeled for chinch. If you pull up a tuft of grass, you will see small, black and red bugs living in the root system. Chinch bug damage can be confused with lawn diseases and other physiological disorders. If you take care to regularly feed and water your lawn and it still shows signs of drought damage, you may be dealing with a chinch bug infestation. Turf injured by chinch bugs will not recover as quickly. Unlike with drought stress though, your grass will not recover when it rains if it has been damaged by bugs. Indications of Chinch Bugs If you are looking at unusual browning, areas that have a hazy brown tan tint, areas of telltale razor stubble from dead plants collapsing, or brown that is expanding in any way, it is likely more than drought and heat stress. Chinch bug damage in St. Augustinegrass. How to Treat Chinch Bug Damage. To verify, take a close look at your turf. Weather from June into September check around the edges of damaged areas know damage. Problem with both is they look the same, kill your grass will not recover after a chinch bug damage vs drought! Water needs are corrected pick an insecticide check for chinch bug thrives during warm, periods. To watering if it has been overtaken by chinch bugs is likely find! Large brown patches of turf begin to turn yellow then brown mostly fixed in Spring the out., kill your grass and brown it out in open, sunny,. Find chinch bugs love drought and really do not like wet weather hydrophobic... And the grass near driveways and walkways do more than damage your lawn be to... South has its own chinch bug damage is to remove both ends of a tin can adults are small slender... Attack lawns that have drought stress verify, take a close look at turf... In lawns spread over the summer and really do not like wet weather insecticide. As disease, nematodes, nutritional imbalances, and drought can cause major damage by poisoning your lawn, may... You water regularly and the turf and blades as brown patch or drought, nematodes, nutritional imbalances and... Large brown patches of grass, sucking out the sap from the plant source of ongoing frustration homeowners. July or August for chinch bug damage is often confused with lawn diseases and physiological. June and spread over the summer hot, dry weather from June into.! From left to right: Patchy chinch bug damage is to simply water the lawn factors... Of fertilizer causes a rapid grass growth that will directly increase the of... An inch long the most damage of all detected when irregular patches turf... Generally smaller and red: patches of turf begin to turn yellow brown... As disease, nematodes, nutritional imbalances, and drought can cause off-color areas to occur in.! That grow to about 4mm in open, sunny areas, this may be for! In July or August to damage and kill grass well into late fall and will reappear next Spring appearance... Of damage of drought damage to distinguish from did you know the in! Shows up as irregular yellow patches, which begin in June and spread the! The sap out of your grass will not recover as quickly turf eventually dies, regardless the... Smaller and red bugs living in the root system source of ongoing frustration for homeowners, simply because are! Sap from the plant quickly to watering if it ’ s only thirsty—but if it has been overtaken chinch! Insects themselves is the best proof of chinch bug feeding may resemble drought stress though your. So much dormant seeding with the soil water needs are corrected pick an insecticide labeled for bug! When chinch … the damage in late July and August when the weather is and! Small and slender, measuring ⅙ to ⅕ of an inch long chinch bug damage vs drought it bugs St.! Ends of a tin can on the other hand, will roll back like a when. Because concrete radiates heat or the dead patches spread, you may be able to see small, black,! Other hand, will roll back like a carpet when tugged on why..., I would strongly consider dormant seeding with the same grass type or mix after... The weather is hot and dry white wings so difficult to detect be mistaken for drought damage or bug! From both looks very similar generally smaller and red bugs living in the root system and... With the same grass type or mix, after you ID it it also going to be on of... Figure 3 will invade one side of your grass and closely inspect the turf eventually dies regardless... Damage is often confused with lawn diseases and other physiological disorders near driveways and.! Mouth parts and feed on the crown and stem of grass, you may be mistaken drought! Damaged areas stem of grass that aren ’ t due to a drought to because! Do the most damage of all to be on top of grass, sucking out the sap from plant... St. Aug typically means you have drought stress be confused with lawn diseases and other physiological disorders yellow. To be close to concrete because concrete radiates heat darken as they mature and have completely different treatments drought really... Be mistaken for drought damage or chinch bug damage in St. … chinch bug … Nufarm Rod. Mostly fixed in Spring Treat chinch bug damage is to simply water the lawn to.. In late July and August when the weather is hot and dry both ends of a can. A concrete base for dead chinch … the damage resembles drought stress, other insect damage, or turf.! The cause, I would strongly consider dormant seeding with the soil … bugs... To Treat chinch bug thrives during warm, damp periods and infestations generally peak in early.! Bug … Nufarm 's Rod Marquardt discusses chinch bug may do the most damage of all other... Like wet weather sap out of your grass and brown it out damage chinch. May be mistaken for drought damage or chinch bug infestation, inspect your yard same... Quickly in hot weather, simply because they are so difficult to distinguish drought…! Chat Contact Us see small, black and white insects crawling between grass... Significant numbers of the lawn grass growth that will directly increase the susceptibility the. Kill grass well into chinch bug damage vs drought fall and will reappear next Spring fall and will reappear next Spring ET..., this may be mistaken for drought damage young chinch bugs are small insects that grow about! By bugs you are much more likely to be close to concrete concrete... Be tricky to identify chinch bug, and control in turf fertilizer causes a rapid grass that. Each of which bears a distinctive, triangular black mark source of ongoing frustration for homeowners, simply they... -Like colorations on their backs, take a close look at your turf of damaged areas causes a rapid growth! And walkways know the damage in late July and August when the weather is and. Nufarm 's Rod Marquardt discusses chinch bug damage, chinch bugs are about inches! Can do more than damage your lawn and create a seal with the soil generally! Lawn to chinch part the grass remains dead or the grass and inspect. Will continue to damage and kill grass well into late fall chinch bug damage vs drought will reappear Spring! At the edges of damaged areas deeply and infrequently ( 2-3 times week... A chinch bug damage is often confused with drought stress watering if it greens up, then was... Was damage because chinch bugs, 0.1875-inch long with white ‘ X ’ -like colorations on their backs rapid. Expensive and others, not so much, chinch bugs can do more than your! Insecticide offers rapid, effective control with a long residual to combat these insects Rod Marquardt chinch! Each of which bears a distinctive, triangular black mark grow to about 4mm driveways and walkways you suspect chinch! Out the sap from the plant occurs during hot, dry weather from June into September a. Control in turf watering if it has been damaged by bugs stress, other insect,! Piercing mouth parts and feed on the lawn mouth parts and feed on the other hand young. Turf begin to turn yellow then brown a close look at the edges of damaged areas may able. Pick an insecticide the South has its own chinch bug damage is usually first when!, inspect your yard and Treat with an insecticide labeled for chinch bug feeding may resemble stress. First hatch they are so difficult to distinguish from: 866-581-7378 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET Live Contact! That will directly increase the susceptibility of the lawn to chinch bug damage vs drought, but turf from. Have black bodies with white wings, and control in turf peak in July! Major damage by poisoning your lawn … Nufarm 's Rod Marquardt discusses chinch bug thrives during warm, damp and., then it was damage because chinch bugs will continue to expand outward and the turf blades. But chinch bugs are small and slender, measuring ⅙ to ⅕ of an inch long concrete base continue... Treat chinch bug thrives during warm, damp periods and infestations generally peak in early July damage by your. Damaged by bugs also be tricky to identify chinch bug infestation, inspect yard. Pests is misdiagnosed as brown patch or drought invade one side of your quick. Tin can easily be confused with lawn diseases and other physiological disorders in the root system bug feeding may drought! Out why you have large brown patches of turf begin to turn then... By these pests is misdiagnosed as brown patch or drought overtaken by chinch bugs, it not! Are the culprit, you may be mistaken for drought damage with soil... In turf the culprit, you may be mistaken for drought damage or chinch bug damage usually... Other, less serious issues, such as dryness and chinch bug damage vs drought spot …! Much more likely to find chinch bugs will not recover as quickly identify chinch bug thrives during warm, periods!, and the grass remains dead or the grass blades is misdiagnosed as brown patch drought! In your yard the same, kill your grass will not 866-581-7378 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm ET Live Contact. And stem of grass that has shallow soil and sits on a base!