The irregular yellow patches that appear on your lawn in summer could be a sign of the appearance of chinch bugs, also called chinch bugs. These small insects are very active from late June to late July, during periods of hot, dry weather. They can quickly spread, causing brown spots or dead spots on your lawn.
Chinch bugs are small insects that spend the winter in lawns. In spring, when temperatures rise, adults reproduce and lay their eggs in thatch or blades of grass. When temperatures exceed 25°C, these eggs hatch and produce large numbers of nymphs. These insects feed by sucking the stems and crowns of grass blades, which weakens the lawn and causes yellowing followed by browning, giving the appearance of dryness. Eventually, an infestation of chinch bugs completely destroys the lawn.
How to identify chinch bugs? Detecting the chinch bug is relatively easy, as its bright red body makes it easily recognizable. As it grows, its color gradually changes to orange, then brown and finally black with a white spot on its back. Adults are typically between 3 and 6 millimeters in length and are often found in green grass near damaged areas. Full development from egg to adult usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
How to get rid of chinch bugs? Prevention is the first step to avoiding a bedbug infestation. To prevent chinch bugs, it is recommended to adopt a fertilization program to maintain a dense and healthy lawn. It is also important not to mow the lawn too short, with a minimum height of 3 to 3 1/2 inches, and to seed damaged areas.
If you detect a bedbug infestation, you can control them by applying a soapy water solution in the morning and evening, repeating for 5 to 7 days. If you cannot carry out the complete treatment diligently or in the case of a major infestation, the use of an insecticide treatment may be necessary.
In short, although chinch bugs can cause damage to your lawn, they can be prevented and controlled with preventive measures and rapid intervention. Do not hesitate to contact us if you notice the presence of chinch bugs or if you have dry, irregular yellow spots on your lawn that do not green up despite watering.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/chinch-bugs.html
