INSECT ID · SUCKING PEST
Chinch bugs
Also called Southern chinch bug, chinch bug damage
Tiny black bugs that suck the sap out of grass. They hit St. Augustine hardest and make yellow patches that keep growing.
How to spot it
- Irregular patches of yellow grass that spread outward
- Worst in hot, dry summer weather, mostly July and August
- Part the grass at the edge of a patch, where green meets yellow, and look close
- Adults are tiny, about 3/16 inch, black with white wings
- St. Augustine takes the worst of it. Bermudagrass and zoysia are hurt less
Why it shows up
Chinch bugs feed on grass sap and inject a toxin that kills the plant tissue. Texas can see 3 to 6 generations a year, so numbers climb fast in summer. Thatch buildup, too much nitrogen, and dry stress can help them along.
How we treat it
Summer protection against chinch bugs is part of our lawn program. We check for them in hot, dry areas, and when we find them we treat. We also feed your lawn on a schedule so the turf stays thick and healthy.
What you can do
- Look at the edge of a yellow patch, not the middle. That is where the bugs are.
- Water during dry stretches so the lawn is not stressed.
- Do not overfeed with nitrogen, and keep thatch in check.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138