1. Turf Pests of
Southern Florida

2. Chinch Bug Biology & Management
Advanced Training Program:
Chinch Bug Biology &
Management

3. North American Species
Hemiptera: Lygaeidae
Blissus leucopterus leucopterus: Common chinch bug
Distributed from the midwest to the east,
reported as far south as Alabama
Blissus leucopterus hirtus: Hairy chinch bug
Distributed from the east and north of
the common chinch bug
Blissus arenarius arenarius:
Distributed from Canada south to Virginia

4. Blissus arenarius maritimus:
Distributed from North Carolina, south to Jupiter, Fl.
Blissus insularis: Southern chinch bug
Throughout Florida, along the southern portions
of the Gulf states, and coastal through N.
Carolina

5. Life Cycle Egg 6 Nymphal Stages Adult Eggs:
Incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis
Egg Nymphal Stages Adult
Eggs:
Eggs laid on the soil or on plant near soil
Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about 0.033
inches long by inches wide
A female southern chinch bug will lay about
200 Eggs in her lifetime

6. Nymphs: In south Florida, eggs begin hatching in late
February and there are 7 generations per year
Nymphs:
Undergo 5 molts
Upon eclosion, nymphs are bright red, about the size
of a pinhead and start to feed as soon as a suitable
spot is found
Preferred feeding site is the area between the leaf
sheath and the stem
Nymphs tend to feed gregariously and will not leave
the site until the sprig dies
Wing pads develop on later instars

7. Adults: After molting, adults are light colored and soft
After hardening, the body turns black
Two body forms can exist:
Long-winged: macropterous
Short-winged: brachyopterous
Flight is known in macropterous forms

8. Mating Courtship occurs through a series of antennal movements
Male and females mate several times
Copulation lasts from hours
Males adults live an average of 8 days and adult
females live an average of 10 days

9. Male & Female
First Generation (1,091 offspring)
Second Generation (374,213 offspring)
Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring)
(remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)

10. Damage Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap
feeding results in a reddish stain
Feeding causes death to the cells
Feeding by a large number of bugs can dwarf the
plant causing death
Damage usually greatest during hot, dry weather
in sunny rather than shady locations
Aggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot have
been reported

11. Host Range Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass
in Florida.
Are not a serious pest on any of the other lawn grasses
but have been observed feeding on torpedo grass,
various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass (rare), and rice

12. Suck the plant juices from grass (generally on nodes
of runners) resulting in yellowish to brownish patches
Damage often first noticed in water stressed areas
along edges of lawns

13. Chinch Bug Damage
UF - IFAS

14. Chinch Bug Early-Instar Nymphs
UF - Entomology
Nymphs are about the size of a pinhead after they
emerge from eggs.
They molt five times before reaching the adult stage.
Small nymphs are bright red with a white band.

15. Late-instar nymph Adult
UF - Entomology
Late stage nymphs and adult chinch bugs are about
1/5 inch long and black; the adults have white wings.

16. Managing Chinch Bugs 1. Follow cultural suggestions
Especially avoid excessive amounts of
soluble Nitrogen

17. Managing Chinch Bugs
2. Predators
Striped
Earwigs
Good egg
predators

18. Big-Eyed Bug
Predatory Insect

19. Managing Chinch Bugs
3. Installing resistant/tolerant varieties ???

20. Managing Chinch Bugs 4. Insecticide treatments
Threshold: bugs per square foot
Many products are labeled
Can treat damaged areas plus a 5 foot buffer

21. There are many causes for turf decline… such as:
Wrong turf variety for location
(i.e., sun vs. shade)
Poor Management practices
Nematodes
Diseases
Pests

22. Every turf manager needs to be familiar
with causes for decline, and must be able
to identify pests and pest problems
USDA-Agricultural Research Service

23. In general, healthy turf is better able to withstand pest
pressure than stressed turf
Follow guidelines for growing healthy
turf printed in the Florida Lawn
Handbook

24. Cultural Practices For Management
of Turf Pests
1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water-
soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizers
Turf looks great but results in rapid succulent
growth that chinch bugs and caterpillars prefer
Use a Slow-Release, Complete Fertilizer 2-6X per
year, depending on turf type

25. Cultural Practices For Management
of Turf Pests
2. Practice proper mowing procedures
Improper mowing can lead to development of a
thatch layer which harbors chinch bugs and
caterpillars…and can “tie up” insecticides
Mow often enough so that no more than one-third
of the leaf blade is removed.

26. Keep cutting blades sharp to prevent
leaf damage

27. Cultural Practices For Management
of Turf Pests
3. Do not over-water
Over-watering, especially in combination
with improper fertilization, leads to lush growth and thatch

28. Irrigate only when grass begins to show
water stress. Apply no more than 1 inch
per application.

29. Monitoring for Turf Pests
Weekly pest monitoring is recommended

30. Monitoring Caterpillars & Mole Crickets
1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water
2. Drench 4 ft2 area with the solution
3. Count insects that emerge
4. Examine random places in healthy turf
5. Concentrate along the
edges of brown
patches
6. Also works for chinch
bugs

31. Monitoring Chinch Bugs
1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil
in suspected areas
2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float
3) Wait 5 minutes
then count
4) Repeat in 3 - 4
locations

32. Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida
Photos: University of Florida
Entomology And Nematology Department
Copyright University of Florida 2000
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