What’s a chinch bug and why should I care?

Chinch bugs are about 1/5^th of an inch in length and have wings that fold flat on their back forming a black and white triangular pattern. Their favorite meal is your Floratam grass! They pierce the lower sections of the grass with their needle like mouth parts and draw out nourishment. As a consequence of this feeding, they secrete a toxin that kills the grass. They like to start eating at the edge of the lawn forming a semi-rounded irregular pattern as they move toward the middle of the lawn. 

How can I tell if my problem is chinch bugs?

There are a number of ways to tell that are very simple. The easiest way is to go to the margin area where the grass transitions from brown to green. Spread the grass apart and get a close look at the base of the lawn where the roots go into the ground. Keep the grass spread apart and hold still to see if there is any movement of insects. Infestations are easy to identify because they feed in groups. Examine several areas if chinch bugs are not immediately found. 

If you think you may have chinch bugs please call us at (727) 847-6733 or visit our website at www.greentecpestcontrol.com