Southern Chinch Bug Management

The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is currently the most difficult-to-control and damaging insect pest of St. Augustinegrass in Florida. Nymphs and adults feed on plant fluids within leaf sheaths, down in the thatch, and this feeding kills the grass plants and contributes to weed invasion. Homeowners and lawn care companies seek to prevent this damage by repeatedly applying insecticides to keep chinch bug numbers low. However, numerous chinch bug populations have developed resistance to every major chemical class that has been used against them and host plant resistance has been overcome. An integrated pest management program, or resistance management program, must be implemented to keep chinch bug populations under satisfactory control and keep St. Augustinegrass as a viable lawn turfgrass in Florida.

Southern chinch bug activity occurs from March through November in north-central Florida and is year-round in southern Florida.  Southern chinch bug populations tend to be clumped, rather than randomly dispersed throughout lawns. Usually more than one chinch bug can be found in the bottom leaf sheath on a plant and among surrounding plants. Infestations may occur in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways, but also in the middle of lawns. Infested plants have slower growth, turn yellow, and die. As their host plants die, individuals will walk to neighboring St. Augustinegrass plants to continue feeding. Thus, dead patches of grass seem to get larger over time. The speed of turf death probably depends on chinch bug density and the turf's overall health. Southern chinch bugs rarely disperse by flying.  Other factors, such as disease, nematodes, nutritional imbalances, and drought can cause off-color areas to occur in lawns. Therefore, the lawn should be carefully examined to determine which corrective measures may be needed.

To view this entire article, please visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh036

If you are concerned about your lawn and the pests that may be damaging it, contact A1 Super Heroes at (954) 255-2233 to speak with one of our professionals.