Stop chinch bug invasion
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Homeowners throughout Lake County are experiencing a chinch bug invasion. As lawns and pastures dry out and nighttime temperatures fall, these conditions and the timing of the chinch bug’s life cycle accelerate the invading population.
The adult chinch bugs are about 1/8 to 1/5 inch in length and black with white markings on the wings. The wings rest flat over the back of the insect and there is a black spot between the wings. They have piercing-sucking mouth parts and they feed on the sap of grass plants. Because their diet and natural habitat is grass plants, they are non-threatening to humans and house structures. However, many find them to be pesky nuisances when they move into homes for autumn and winter.
Prevent entry into houses by making sure screens on windows and patio doors are intact and sealing up other entryways such as cracks and crevices using an exterior caulk gun. Some pest control companies or homeowners themselves can apply an insecticide around the perimeter of the house to keep the bugs out. In the home, vacuum all areas of the home to remove chinch bugs and focus on crevices along windows and near doors. Dispose of the bugs from the vacuum promptly.
Another strategy to holding off a home invasion of chinch bugs is to keep their natural environment as healthy and succulent for as long as possible into autumn. Lawns and pastures that remain green tend to maintain the chinch bug population longer than dried dormant grass. Watering and fertilization in late September or October, in the case of lawns, helps keep the chinch bug population from migrating away to other areas such as homes.
