Chinch bugs are tiny nuisances for lawns in Maryland. These lawn pests feed on the sap of grass and inject it with a toxin that causes it to turn yellow or brown and eventually die. Chinch bugs thrive in warm and dry conditions, which is why they are most active from May to August. If your lawn has been infested with chinch bugs, it's important to contact a lawn care professional right away to schedule a curative to eliminate them. If the damage is extensive, you may need to schedule lawn services to help your turf recover. It's also best to invest in preventative chinch bug control treatments next year to prevent a new infestation.

What are chinch bugs, and what damage can they cause?

Chinch bug on blue plastic in Westminster, MD.

Chinch bugs are small insects that feed on the sap of grass blades. They are most commonly found in warm, dry climates and can cause significant damage to lawns if left untreated. Chinch bugs are about 1/8 inch long and have white wings with black markings. They also have piercing mouthparts that they use to feed on grass blades by sucking out the sap from them, depleting your lawn of vital nutrients and water.

If feeding on plant sap wasn't enough for them, chinch bugs also inject a toxin into the grass that affects your lawn's ability to transport water, which results in its dehydration. When these pests infest your lawn, the first sign of damage that you will notice is the presence of irregular patches of discolored grass. These patches spread rapidly and cause unappealing dead zones on your turf.

When are chinch bugs most active?

Chinch bugs are most active during the summer months, typically from May to August. During this time, they will feed on the sap of grass plants, causing damage to your lawn. Chinch bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions, so they are more likely to be a problem during periods of drought. It's important to be vigilant during this time and keep an eye out for any signs of chinch bug activity on your lawn.

Chinch bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions.

What should you do if chinch bugs infest your lawn?

If you suspect that your lawn has been infested with chinch bugs, it's important to act quickly. The first step is to contact lawn care professionals to schedule a curative treatment to eliminate chinch bugs. This treatment will kill chinch bugs and prevent them from causing further damage to your lawn. If the damage caused is extensive, you may need to schedule lawn care services to help your turf recover, such as fertilization and aeration, so that it can grow back healthy and strong.

To prevent future infestations, it's important to schedule preventative chinch bug control treatments next year. Preventative treatments are designed to kill chinch bugs before they have a chance to cause damage to your lawn. By scheduling them, you can protect your lawn from these tiny pests and ensure that it stays healthy and beautiful all year long.

Call Us Today to Schedule Our Lawn Insect Control Service

When it comes to chinch bugs, swift action is important to stop them from causing further damage to your grass. Here at Liqua-Grow Turf, we offer a lawn insect control service that provides both protection and defense for your lawn against chinch bug infestations. If your turf is already infested, you can schedule a curative treatment with us to clear the pests from your turf. We also provide preventative treatments that will keep chinch bugs from infesting your lawn again in the future!

We offer this service to homeowners and business owners, as well as HOAs, in Westminster, Eldersburg, Ellicott, and nearby areas in Maryland. Call our team today at (410) 795-7900 to sign up for this service!