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Chinch bugs are small pesky bugs, but they are considered hard to get rid of, and they are known to attack turfgrass in North America. Prone to how annoying Chinch bugs are, many gardeners and lawn owners can’t wait to get rid of them. One powerful product you might find useful for getting rid of this pesky bug is Triazicide.
Spectracide triazicide is a powerful formula that has been known to provide season-long control against ants and often wondered if they are effective against Chinch bugs as well. However, you have to identify the pest on time and then decide what treatment is effective in getting rid of it.
Yes, Triazicide is very effective in killing chinch bugs, it is a powerful product formulated for killing by contact while providing a season-long control of ants. It can also help you protect your lawn from pill bugs, grubs, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, and other pests. Chinch bugs are relatively easy to control if they are detected early.
The chinch bugs prefer turf grass and they only do damage to it. So, what do chinch bugs do? How do you identify it? Does triazicide kill chinch bugs? Read on to get answers to this and help keep this annoying pest under control.
Chinch Bugs in Turfgrass
The chinch bug is the most commonly encountered pest that might be killing your lawn, it is one of the oldest known insects pests, they live in your turf while feeding with its piercing-sucking mouth parts; it does secret a chemical called anticoagulant into the host plants.
Chinch bugs are very small insects, and they are several species of them that attack turf grasses in North America.
You must do a proper investigation before using any chemical treatment as you need to know what chinch looks like at each growing stage. Chinch bugs feed by draining the sap from your grass until it withers, so you want to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Here is a description of each stage of Chinch bugs so you can easily identify them.
1. Eggs
The egg stage is the first stage of any pests and chinch bugs do have a gradual lifecycle. The eggs of chinch bugs are elongated, bean-shaped, and approximately 0.84 mm long by 0.25 mm wide.
It is roundly pointed on one end and blunt at the other end. The egg is first white and later changes to bright orange before emerging.
2. Nymphs
This stage comes in 5 nymphal instars and with each successful molt or instar, it changes considerably and markings. The first instar has a bright orange color with cream strips, and the second through to the fourth can maintain the same color pattern, but the fifth is very different. Fifth has a general black color with a blue-black abdomen and is about 3 mm in shape.
3. Adults
You should easily identify the chinch at the adult stage. This bug at the fully grown stage is approximately 3.5 mm long and 0.75 mm wide. The males are not that different from the females but they are covered with hair and also gray-black.
Does Triazicide Kill Chinch Bugs?
The infestation of chinch bugs can be harmful to your lawn and they can appear at any time but fortunately, you can easily get rid of them with Triazicide.
Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer is a widely used concentrate homeowners use in getting rid of insects, this can treat over 260 insects upon contact so you have to use it with care so you do not kill beneficial insects.
The amount of triazicide you use will depend on the amount of sq. ft you have to cover. Also, the application method is similar no matter the bug you are trying to kill. So, simply read the product label thoroughly to direct you on usage, and after applying, you should wait a few hours before allowing pets or children to resume playing.
How do You Know if You Have Chinch Bug Damage?
Areas that have been damaged by chinch bug will appear yellow, eventually turn brown, and then starts dying.
Chinch bugs are most active during warm weather season and can cause damage all year round if they are not controlled.
The center of the area that chinch bugs affect might even go straight to being dead and bare, and they can eventually start to spread, this bug infestation often happens during hot weather or when the grass is water stressed.
How to Avoid Chinch Bug Infestation
How do you avoid infestation? Triazicide and pesticides will kill chinch bugs but not their egg and some chemical will only release protection for some time. Chinch bugs only infest turf that are stressed so here is how you avoid the infestation generally.
- Allowing the turn to go into summer dormancy and reducing regular watering should decrease the infestation of chinch bugs.
- Mowing too short can stress the turf, so cut no more than one-third of the grass blade when you mow.
- Dethatch your lawn annually to keep it strong and less likely to fall prey to pests.
- Do not overfertilize, as a lush turf will only attract chinch bugs.
- Use targeted insecticide application and follow application instructions on the label carefully.
Final Thoughts
Anytime you find yellow patches of grass that turn brown and starts to die then there is no doubt you do have chinch infestation. Chinch is luckily easy to detect in turf, but we recommend mowing before treating with Triazicide.
Follow the instructions on the label carefully, as every pesticide has its application method.
Chinch bugs are fast becoming resistant to many of the insecticides out there, so adopting cultural and biological methods is quite important. So, during periods of intense heat and drought, do keep your lawn from getting stressed.
