Chinch Bugs

What Are Chinch Bugs?

Florida is home to a wide variety of lawn and garden pests, taking advantage of all the grassy yards and outdoor spaces our state provides. Chinch bugs are one of Florida’s most common lawn pests and are most problematic to lawns consisting of St. Augustine grass. Adult chinch bugs are small and have black or brown bodies with overlapping white wings and darker triangular markings.

Immature chinch bugs have bright-red bodies with a white stripe that runs across their back. Young chinch bugs are lighter in color and darken as they mature.

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Are Chinch Bugs Dangerous?

Chinch bugs are dangerous to our lawns. They use their sucking mouthparts to remove sap from the grass they are feeding on. These insects inject a toxin during the feeding process that causes the plant to no longer utilize water and nutrients found in the soil.

If chinch bugs are feeding on your lawn, they will turn your healthy green lawn into a lawn riddled with large patches of brown or yellow grass. Reach out to Trad's Pest Control for immediate lawn care solutions at the first sign of lawn damage.

Why Do I Have a Chinch Bug Problem?

Turfgrass is the chinch bug’s main food source, and turfgrass covers most of our Florida yards. Your yard has the food these pests are looking for, and they won’t hesitate to take advantage. Unfortunately for us, simply having a yard attracts chinch bugs.

Where Will I Find Chinch Bugs?

Chinch bugs are most active when the weather is warmest and mainly in open sunny areas, as they prefer to feed in areas with dry soil. In Florida, this means that chinch bugs are active almost year-round and are a constant threat to our yards. As chinch bugs feed, they move outward to find fresh grass to feed on, causing more and more damage each day.

In addition to feeding on grass, these insects feed on other grass-like plants like weeds, wheat, rye, barley, or sorghum.

How Do I Get Rid of Chinch Bugs?

Rid your Jacksonville, Florida lawn of destructive chinch bugs by reaching out to the Jacksonville pest control and lawn care experts at Trad’s Pest Control. We know how frustrating chinch bugs can be and will act quickly to devise a treatment plan that will meet your property’s specific needs. Our lawn care services are effective, hassle-free, and convenient and will return your lawn to a healthy green space for you and your family to enjoy!

To learn more about working with us to maintain your lawn and rid your Jacksonville home of common pests, reach out to us today!

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How Can I Prevent Chinch Bugs In The Future?

Preventing lawn pests like chinch bugs is difficult and best accomplished with the help of regular lawn control services.

There are a few things you can do to make your yard less attractive to chinch bugs, but some of the things you can do to avoid these pests are listed below.

Make sure your lawn is well irrigated and aerated. Chinch bugs are most attracted to dry soil.
Don’t mow your grass too short. Longer grass will help moisture remain in the soil.
Make sure to maintain your yard and keep it properly fertilized. A healthy lawn is less susceptible to chinch bug damage.