DAMAGE DESCRIPTION:
Small, scattered wilted patches, soon turn yellow, enlarge to 2 to 3 feet, then turn brown; chinch bugs found by examination of grass shoots near soil surface and in thatch; when crushed they emit an odor like a stink bug; adults with black body 3 to 4 mm long, 1 mm wide, reddish yellow legs, short to fully developed wings; all stages feed by sucking plant juices from crown and nodes of lateral stems via piercing mouth parts; foliar sucking insects; inhabits turf thatch/mat; Hairy occurs more in cool humid and Southern in warm humid climates; turf damage typically occurs in hot dry summer weather in sunny sites; black and white wings folded over back-appears to carry a white cross on its back.
HOST GRASSES:
Major hosts: Southern-Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass, Centipedegrass, especially St. Augustinegrass
Others: Hairy-Bentgrass, Bluegrasses, Fine fescues, Perennial ryegrass, St. Augustinegrass
LIFE CYCLE:
Eggs laid in lower sheaths; nymphs emerge after 1 to 2 weeks, 5 instars, followed by active adult feeding for 6 to 10 weeks; generations from 1 to 2 in cool-Hairy and 3 to 7 in warm-Southern; may continue to feed and be active in warmer climate, but will overwinter as adults in grass and begin egg laying in spring
FACTORS THAT MAY PROMOTE INSECT DAMAGE:
Sunny areas during hot dry summer; excessive thatch; too little or too much irrigation; excessive fertilization.
CULTURAL CONTROL:
Control thatch; use proper irrigation and fertilization methods; monitor sunny sites frequently; big-eyed bug is natural predator as well as minute pirate bug and ants; endophyte ryegrass and fescue cultivars; resistant St. Augustinegrass = Floratam; use coffee can, cut both ends out, and drive into infected site-fill with water and wait few minutes-chinch bugs will float to top if present.
CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Irrigate turf prior to control treatment; afterwards lightly water in-may need to reapply after 4 to 6 weeks for Southern Chinch bug; 20 to 25 chinch bugs per square foot is threshold.
| Specific Insecticide Recommendations | ||||
|
Insecticide (chemical name) |
Efficacy |
Application Interval |
Time of Year To Apply |
Example of Products (trade names |
| Bendiocarb | Good to Excellent | 4 to 6 weeks | Late Spring and Summer | Turcam |
| Bifenthrin | Good to Excellent | 4 to 6 weeks | Late Spring and Summer | Talstar |
| Carbaryl | Good to Excellent | 4 to 6 weeks | Late Spring and Summer | Sevin |
| Lambda-cyhalothrin | Good to Excellent | 4 to 6 weeks | Late Spring and Summer | Scimitar, Battle |
| Acephate | Good to Excellent | 4 to 6 weeks | Late Spring and Summer | Orthene, Address T/O |
REFERENCES:
Beard, J. B. 2002. Turfgrass Management for Golf Courses. Second Edition. Ann Harbor Press. Chelsea, Michigan..
Decker, H. F., Decker, J. M. 1988. Lawn Care-A Handbook for Professionals. Prentice Hall. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Liskey, E., “Turfgrass Insecticides”, Grounds Maintenance, Volume 37, Number 2, February 2002, pp. 8-10.
Turgeon, A. J. 2002. Turfgrass Management. Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Taylor, G. R. - Editor. 2000. Turfgrass Pesticide Recommendations 1999-2000. Extension Publication SCS-1991-01. Texas A&M University. College Station, Texas.
Duble, R. L. 2001. Turfgrasses-Their Management and Use in the Southern Zone. Second Edition. Texas A&M University. College Station, Texas.
Emmons, R. D. 2000. Turfgrass Science and Management. Third Edition. Delmar Thomson Learning. Albany, New York.