Chinch Bugs

Adult size: about 1/5th inch

Signs of damage usually occurs in June as irregular patches of tan or straw colored turf. As these insects continue to eat at the turf, the lawn will be unable to produce food and start dying off.

The chinch bug feeds off the juices from the blades of grass. This causes patches of yellow to brown turf to form (often enlarging as this pest continues to feed). Like beetles, it is difficult to control these pest because they can fly from one area to another. Areas susceptible to chinch bug damage are hot and sunny, usually the damage occurs near sidewalks, drives or foundations due to the extra heat emitted from the concrete during summer through fall.