Chinch Bugs: Identification and Prevention Strategies
Written by
If your lawn is plagued by patchy brown grass, even with frequent watering, chinch bugs may be to blame. These tiny bugs are less than a quarter-inch long but can wreak havoc on a healthy lawn. Fortunately, you can restore your lawn by identifying and removing chinch bugs.
Our guide outlines how to identify chinch bugs, also known as Blissus leucopterus, why they’re attracted to your yard, the damage they cause, and remedies that will return your lawn to normal.
Identifying Chinch Bugs
Due to their size, recognizing chinch bugs isn’t easy. These tiny insects feed on all types of turf grass throughout the country. It is common to find chinch bugs in small numbers on your lawn, but you’re more likely to notice the damage they cause before recognizing the insects themselves. When chinch bug populations grow, they suck the nutrients from grass, leaving behind yellow patches that quickly turn brown and die.
When you see these patches in your lawn, inspect the healthy grass nearby to look for bugs with these notable characteristics:
- Distinct coloring: Adult chinch bugs have a dark red to black body. Nymphs (immature bugs) are vibrant red or orange with a white stripe.
- Small size: Adult chinch bugs are less than a quarter inch long.
- White dot: Chinch bugs have a single white dot on their backs.
- White wings: Wings are white and neatly folded.
Chinch Bug Life Cycle
Several species of chinch bugs feed on grasses in North America, such as the hairy chinch bug, the common chinch bug, the Southern chinch bug, and the Western chinch bug. All species are very similar and follow the same life cycle.
Eggs
Chinch bugs tend to lay their eggs in late spring to early summer. Their eggs are bean-shaped, and only 0.84 mm long—smaller than a pencil point. They’re white when first laid and change to bright orange just before nymphs emerge. The eggs are practically invisible to the naked eye and have no impact on grass before nymphs hatch.
Nymphs
During the nymph stage, chinch bugs undergo five stages of molting (instars), which produce dramatic changes in their appearance. During the first stage, nymphs are bright orange with a white stripe and only 0.9 mm long. Over the next four molting stages, the orange color gradually changes to a purplish-gray with two black spots. By the fourth molt, the nymph has more than doubled in size to about 2 mm. In the fifth stage, the nymph’s wing pads are visible, and the color darkens to black. During this final stage, chinch bug nymphs are about 3 mm long and almost adult-size.
Young nymphs begin feeding right away but grow slowly at the beginning of the season when temperatures are cool. They grow quickly during warmer temperatures, and you may notice yellowed and dry grass by late June.
Adults
Adult stage chinch bugs are about 3.5 mm long, which is slightly smaller than a quarter inch. They have dark bodies with white wings that may be short- or full-sized. Only those with full-sized wings can fly. Adult insects mate in spring or early summer, and females lay up to 170 eggs, which hatch in one to three weeks.
During the hot summer months, females lay eggs rapidly, and the young bugs mature by the end of summer. Turf damage ranges from yellow to brown patches of grass, resembling drought stress. The damaged areas will grow as the chinch bugs spread throughout the lawn.
What Attracts Chinch Bugs?
Chinch bugs thrive in thick, thatched grass and hot, dry conditions. They are attracted to lawns with heavy thatch, poor irrigation, and short-mowed grass. Chinch bugs prefer Kentucky bluegrass, bermudagrass, some fescues, bent grass, and zoysia. The common chinch bug also feeds on grain crops, including sorghum, corn, and wheat.
Choosing specific grass types and controlling turf stress through proper lawn care—such as irrigation and mowing—can help you avoid an infestation. Plant resistant grasses, such as perennial ryegrasses, fine fescues, and tall fescues, with endophytes when re-seeding. As temperatures rise, maintain frequent irrigation and avoid mowing grass too short or using nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Removing thatch reduces areas where chinch bugs are most likely to lay eggs and overwinter.
Chinch Bug Damage
Chinch bugs damage your lawn by sticking their sharp mouthparts into a blade of grass and sucking out the nutrients. As they feed, they introduce a toxin into grass blades that blocks the plant’s root system from absorbing water and nutrients. Since their feeding methods dehydrate grass, the initial damage mimics drought effects. The damage first appears as spots of yellowing grass that quickly turn brown and die. The damaged areas spread and merge as the insects move to feed on healthy grass.
Even if you get an infestation under control, you can’t rejuvenate dead grass. After the infestation is gone, you can restore your lawn by removing all thatch and seeding with the right mix of grasses.
DIY Remedies
Once you’ve identified a chinch bug infestation in your lawn, it’s time to determine the best pest control method for getting rid of the tiny pests. To avoid chemicals, you can choose from several eco-friendly, do-it-yourself (DIY) remedies.
Dusting With Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an earth-based powder created from the fossilized remains of aquatic organisms. Although it feels powdery, DE contains sharp particles that pierce the bodies of insects. The insects then dehydrate due to the desiccant effects of the powder.
To rid an area of chinch bugs, sprinkle DE powder evenly across infested areas. Apply the powder when the weather is calm, without wind and rain. Wear a dust mask and goggles during application to avoid lung and eye irritation.
Introducing Predatory Insects
Chinch bug populations multiply rapidly when heat and drought reduce the number of beneficial insects that prey on them. You can help reduce the chinch bug population by introducing predatory insects to your lawn. Ladybugs, big-eyed bugs, and lacewings prey on chinch bugs, which can reduce the population without damaging your lawn. You should avoid insecticides when using predatory insects because they’re also sensitive to chemicals.
Using Dawn Dish Soap
The precise application of Dawn dish soap mixed with water is an effective way to get rid of chinch bugs without damaging plants. The same ingredients that remove oils from your dishes can remove the waxy coating from insect exoskeletons and cause bugs to dehydrate. The bugs will then crawl out of the grass to avoid the effects of the soap.
Take these steps to safely use Dawn dish soap to get rid of chinch bugs:
- Purchase regular Dawn dish soap (not extra strength, grease-cutting, or antibacterial).
- Prepare to treat your lawn in the early morning or early evening when temperatures aren’t too high so the sun doesn’t dry out the spray and burn the grass.
- Gently mix 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, and 1 cup of water to avoid creating an abundance of bubbles.
- Drench the infested area—typically the line where healthy grass meets damaged grass—with the solution using a watering can or spray bottle.
- Drape a light-colored cloth or sheet over the treated area and wait 15–20 minutes for bugs to crawl to the surface and attach themselves to the fabric.
- Remove the bug-coated fabric and put it into a bucket filled with soapy water.
- Rinse your lawn with a hose to avoid damage to plants and grass.
Professional Pest Control
Proper dethatching, irrigation, and mowing practices can help you prevent a chinch bug infestation, and natural remedies can be effective if you find chinch bugs on your lawn. But if all your DIY remedies fall short, you may need to consider professional pest control.
Pest control specialists have special tools and treatments to control a chinch bug infestation. Professionals may use granular or liquid insecticides to get rid of bugs and their eggs. In some cases, you’ll need multiple treatments to eradicate the problem.
Professionals may also use preventive applications in areas where chinch bugs have been a problem in the past. Using a targeted spray on the first generation of nymphs can prevent an outbreak that causes damage to your lawn. Exterminators use multiple treatments for extreme infestations, first applying a contact insecticide to knock down pests and later applying a systemic insecticide for long-term control.
Our Conclusion
Chinch bugs are tiny but can cause extensive damage to your lawn. They can quickly turn your lush green lawn into a dry, desert-like landscape. Early identification and treatment are crucial to avoid significant damage to your lawn and can make pest management easier. In many cases, preventive measures and natural remedies are effective for getting rid of chinch bugs, but professional pest control may be necessary.
FAQ About Early Signs of Bedbugs
How do I get rid of chinch bugs in my yard?
You can use preventive strategies and natural remedies to eliminate chinch bugs in your yard. These include dethatching and proper irrigation, a dish soap solution, or diatomaceous earth. If natural remedies fall short, you may need to turn to professional pest control.
Does Dawn dish soap get rid of chinch bugs?
Dawn dish soap can eliminate chinch bugs in your yard if you combine it with water and spray it over the infested area. First, spray the area and cover it with a cloth or sheet. As bugs attempt to get away from the soap, they will climb up to the fabric and you can remove them from your lawn.
How can you tell if you have chinch bugs?
Lawn damage is the most common way to tell if you have chinch bugs. This usually begins with yellowing patches that quickly turn brown and die. As the chinch bug population grows, the patches will grow and spread throughout the lawn.
What attracts chinch bugs?
Thick thatch, hot and dry environments, and specific grasses attract chinch bugs. You can help prevent chinch bug infestations by routinely dethatching your lawn and using proper irrigation and mowing methods. When re-seeding, choose grasses that are less likely to attract chinch bugs.
Are chinch bugs harmful to humans or pets?
Since they feed on grass, chinch bugs aren’t harmful to humans or pets. However, their location on your lawn dictates treatment options in order to keep any people and pets safe.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
