Posted on April 19, 2025 by Lawn Doctor
Lots of pests can destroy your lawn, including chinch bugs, so it’s not always easy to tell what kind of pest problem you have. Chinch bugs tend to strike during hot, dry summer conditions and cause irregular patches of damage. Even though they’re little, these pests can cause major damage to your yard, so it’s important to address the infestation quickly.
There are two types of chinch bugs: hairy and common. Hairy chinch bugs typically target fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, zoysiagrass, perennial ryegrass and bentgrass. Common chinch bugs tend to be less of a problem in residential areas since they prefer corn, wheat and other grains. However, they’ll also eat various types of turfgrass.
The pests feed on your grass blades by sucking sap from them. As they feed, they release toxins that eventually kill the plant by blocking food and water from reaching the roots.
Chinch bugs stay in protected areas during the winter. In the late spring, they start to come out to lay eggs and feed on grass. They’re at their prime when the weather is dry. The females can lay about 250 eggs during their lifetimes, usually on grass blades near the soil line.
Chinch bugs are only about 1/6 of an inch long when they’re fully grown. Immature chinch bugs start out red before turning brown and then black. Adults have white triangular patterns on their wings that contrast against their black bodies.
You might be able to spot them along the edges of the damaged areas. Look at the base of the grass blades just above the soil. The insects tend to be active in the summer, which makes it easy to spot them if you look in the right place.
Chinch bugs love hot conditions, so they are more likely to attack yards with lots of sunny spots where temperatures are higher. An infestation is less likely in a shady yard. They’re also attracted to hardscape features like driveways, sidewalks and your home’s foundation since those areas tend to be warmer. The pests prefer arid climates, which is why areas with sandy soil that drain well may be particularly attractive.
Certain types of grass, including zoysiagrass and St. Augustine grass, are more attractive to the pests. You might attract chinch bugs if you don’t keep your lawn tidy and healthy. Thick layers of thatch provide shelter for chinch bugs. They might also hide in leaves or other lawn debris that you don’t remove. Excessive fertilization often attracts chinch bugs as well, especially nitrogen fertilizers.
A chinch bug infestation is often detected when you see irregularly shaped yellow patches of grass that eventually turn brown. The grass may wilt first before turning yellow and then brown. It often looks similar to the stress caused by drought, but it won’t be resolved by watering the grass. The patches typically continue to form around your yard. The damage is most common when the weather is hot and dry.
You can do a test using a bottomless can, which you can create by cutting off the top and bottom of a tin can. Look for a spot of dead grass and press the bottomless can into the ground nearby. Pour water into the can and wait a few minutes to see if the pests start to float to the top of the water.
In the early stages, watering regularly and keeping your lawn healthy may be enough to overcome a chinch bug infestation. For a more widespread problem, chemical insecticides might be necessary to kill the pests. Bifenthrin is a widely used active ingredient in insecticides that effectively treats chinch bugs. Lawn Doctor also offers treatment options for chinch bugs.
When you call a professional for chinch bug control, you get access to their expertise and the commercial-grade insecticides at their disposal.
Keeping your lawn healthy and well-maintained is an effective way to keep chinch bugs away. Fertilize it just the right amount to avoid excessive fertilizer. Aeration and dethatching may also help. Lawn Doctor can help create a custom lawn care program for your yard to help maintain healthy grass.
Since chinch bugs like dry conditions, watering your lawn regularly during dry periods could help. Irrigate the lawn deeply each time you water it for the best results. An ideal amount of water for your lawn is 1 to 1.5 inches per week. You can also apply a preventative insecticide, particularly during the spring or early summer, to create a barrier against the pests in your yard.
Lawn Doctor is here to help with all of your pest problems, including chinch bugs. Explore our pest control options and contact us to create a regimen that will keep pests out of your yard.
Contact Lawn Doctor to help care for your lawn when you can’t.
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