©
The Pennsylvania State University 2007
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and
the diversity of its workforce.
|
|
|
|
| Chinch Bugs in Home Lawns Blissus leucopterus hirtus Montandon |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Hairy chinch bugs can be frequent pests of home lawns in Pennsylvania. They are often associated with open, sunny areas and may be as numerous as 150 to 200 insects per square foot. Chinch bug populations frequently go unnoticed because of their small size and coloration, which blends in with turfgrass and thatch. Chinch bug damage may be masked during periods of drought. |
|||
|
Description |
|||
|
An adult hairy chinch bug is about 1/6 inch long, has a gray-black body with fine hairs, white wings, and reddish legs. The outer margin of each forewing has a small, black, triangular spot. The wings of the adult are folded flat over their backs (Fig. 1). Some populations of chinch bugs have adults with short wings. Young nymphs are about half the size of a pinhead, and start out as being brick-red with a transverse white band across the back. As the young mature, they turn gray and then black with wing pads developing as they mature into adults (Fig. 2).
|
|||
|
general Life History |
|||
|
Adults overwinter in leaf litter and dense thatch areas that are somewhat sheltered. Two generations typically occur each year, and a partial third generation occurs during years with long summers. Adults usually remain in their overwintering sites until spring temperatures reach 50°F. Then adults begin to disperse, mate, and start laying eggs. Egg laying continues throughout their adult life. An adult female may produce an average of 300 eggs over 40 to 50 days. The eggs are deposited in leaf sheaths and in the ground on roots of host plants. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 weeks, and the nymphs complete a series of five molts before maturing into adults over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. The new adults lay eggs from mid-July through late August. Second-generation nymphs hatch from the eggs and complete development from September through October. When the cool weather arrives, adults seek overwintering sites. Also, minimizing thatch accumulation may discourage initial infestations and may help reduce chinch bug problems in the future. |
|||
|
Damage |
|||
|
Hairy chinch bugs prefer feeding on red fescues, perennial ryegrass, bentgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. Chinch bug infestations frequently occur in turfgrass with thick thatch that is exposed to full sunlight during periods of hot, dry weather. Chinch bug damage is often less noticeable during the spring and early summer. Damage frequently appears from early July through late August when the insects are actively feeding. Chinch bug nymphs and adults cause significant feeding damage by removing plant fluids and by injecting a toxin that causes the grass to yellow, turn reddish brown, and eventually die. Chinch bug damaged areas often coalesce into large patches of dead, brown grass. The suggested economic threshold for chinch bug is 15 to 20 insects per square foot. Visual inspection of healthy turfgrass bordering the dead turfgrass is one sampling method for chinch bugs. The fast-moving adults and nymphs can be seen scurrying about at the base of grass stems and aggregating in groups. However, these insects frequently blend in with the thatch and go unnoticed. On a sunny day, you will notice adults crawling across driveways, sidewalks, and/or over foundation block walls. Hairy chinch bugs can be detected by removing both ends of a one-gallon can, driving the can several inches into the soil, and filling it three-quarters full with water. Stir the duff at the bottom of the container to dislodge chinch bugs located in the thatch. The disturbed chinch bugs soon float to the surface. Count the number of adults and nymphs floating to the surface over a 10-minute period, but do not confuse them with the beneficial big-eyed bug (Fig. 3). Refill the can if the water soaks into the ground before the end of the 10-minute sampling interval. Researchers suggest that 20 to 30 chinch bug life stages per square foot may warrant control, especially when chinch bugs are actively feeding during the summer months.
|
 Figure 3. Big-eyed bug on lower right side of image. |
||
|
Management |
|||
|
Nonchemical - Cultural Nonchemical Curative - Biological Chemical - Curative Home Lawn Hairy Chinch Bug Strategy
|
|||
| Warning | |||
|
Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds. Authored by: Paul Heller, Professor April 2007 ©
The Pennsylvania State University 2007
This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. Return to Entomological Notes Listing
|
|||