Chinch Bugs Kill Katy Lawns

When temperatures begin reaching 90 degrees the chinch bugs come marching out of the thatch layer to feed on St. Augustinegrass. Chinch bugs quickly run up the leaf shaft and inject their sucking mouthpart into tissue to inject an enzyme which breaks down the cells so they can suck the juices. This is toxic to the cells and subsequently kills the grass. The damage typically begins near concrete where the plant is more stressed by effects on the soil, particularly pH, attributable to the concrete.

We recommend preventive insecticide applications against this devastating insect. Once the damage appears, immediate curative action to arrest the spread should be taken.

There are a number of tricks to identify the chinch bug in action, or go to agrilifebookstore.org to learn more about this prolific summer insect. However, birds pecking at the lawn are probably foraging on the chinch bugs: conclude research; do something!

That could include a call to our office to schedule service to verify the diagnosis and make appropriate product applications to cure the problem.

Let say it is too late and the lawn is dead we can paint it like nothing happened.