Remove Excess Thatch To Cut Down On Chinch Bugs

One of the most prominent indications of the presence of chinch bugs is the appearance of large patches of dead, brown grass. These patches will of course appear unsightly amid a well-maintained lawn, and may even have to be specially treated or removed by lawn care specialists. An adult chinch bug is about 1/16 of an inch long and has a greyish-black body which is covered in fine hairs. On top of their bodies are a set of white wings, joined on each side of the body by sets of reddish legs. Young chinch bug nymphs can be as small as a pinhead, and are commonly brick-red in color.

Chinch bug removal experts suggest that these pests mainly feed on a variety of grasses, including red fescues, perennial rye grass, bent grass, and Kentucky bluegrass. Chinch bugs are most common during high summer and are attracted to turf grass that is exposed to full sunlight. Damage caused by chinch bugs can be best noticed during the period between early July and late August when these insects feed most ravenously. Adults and nymphs alike can cause fairly serious damage to grass, as they feed on the plant matter, remove important plant fluids, and inject a certain natural toxin that causes the grass to turn from yellow to brown, and eventually die.

If you believe that your lawn is being infested by chinch bugs, it’s a good idea to call your local pest control professional as soon as possible in order to avoid mounting damage and even more excessive lawn care costs. Your chinch bug removal expert will be able to determine exactly which species of chinch bug is responsible for the damage to your yard, be they the western variety, the hairy variety, or the southern variety.

The removal of excessive thatch is another important step when it comes to chinch bug removal. Adequate maintenance of moisture on lawns and plants will also help reduce feeding damage and promote the growth of beneficial fungi that will help protect your plants from these insects. The use of low nitrogen fertilizer will also slow the reproduction of chinch bugs. As ever it’s vital to consult your pest control professional before attempting to engage in do-it-yourself pest control practices, especially when dealing with insecticides and other poisons that could be hazardous to pets and members of the household.

Cantu Pest & Termite is proud to be the first company in Texas to offer a Cantu Green Service to our customers in search of a more prevention-based solution to their pest removal and ongoing pest management needs while minimizing the use of pesticides.

If chinch bugs or other pests have made unwanted appearances around your home or business, call Cantu Pest & Termite and schedule an appointment today with one of our friendly, experienced chinch bug removal experts.