How to Get Rid of Chinch Bugs
Immature chinch bugs, or nymphs, are very small when they hatch, about the size of a pinhead. Chinch bugs molt five times before becoming adults. Young chinch bugs are bright red in color with a white band on their backs. Adult chinch bugs are black in color with white wings. Adults are approximately 1/5 inch long. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Vacuum the section of your yard where the chinch bugs are concentrated using a shop vac. Vacuuming removes adults, nymphs and eggs and in some cases has been found to be 100 percent effective with no follow up treatment necessary. Empty the contents of the shop vac into a pale full of soapy water to kill the bugs.
-
2
Scatter bird seed on the lawn where the chinch bugs are. The birds that come to eat the seed also eat the chinch bugs and eliminate the problem.
-
-
3
Saturate the lawn that is bothered by chinch bugs with soapy water. Then lay a flannel sheet on top of the wet lawn. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and then peel back the sheet. Pick off the chinch bugs that are clinging to the sheet and drop them into a pail of soapy water to kill them. Repeat this procedure in a week as new chinch bugs hatch.
-
4
Overseed your lawn with Dutch white clover seed so it becomes evenly mixed into your grass. Chinch bugs do not feed on clover so this encourages them to move to a new location.
-
5
Treat your lawn with Diazinon, Dursban or Orthene to get rid of chinch bugs if more natural treatments have not solved the problem. Treat the effected area and a 5-foot buffer around the area following package directions.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Prevent chinch bug infestations from occurring by avoiding excessive nitrogen on your lawn. Fertilizers encourage quick growth of grass which provides an abundant food source for chinch bugs. Dethatch your lawn on a regular basis. Thatch build up provides a protective layer for chinch bugs.
Chinch bugs thrive in hot, dry weather. They begin hatching in late March or early April, an cause the most damage to lawns in July and August. A sign of chinch bugs present are brown areas of your lawn which do not turn green even when adequately watered.
