Hairy Chinch Bug

What it looks like

Adults are about 1/6 inch long and black with white wings folded flat, each with a black spot. Young nymphs are bright red with a white band and darken as they grow.

Damage

Chinch bugs suck sap from grass crowns and stems and inject a toxin. Grass turns yellow, then brown, in irregular patches that grow in hot, dry weather. It often shows up first in sunny spots and along driveways.

How nematodes help

The young bugs (nymphs) and adults live in the thatch and at the soil surface at the base of the grass, not deep in the soil.

Texas A&M University says beneficial nematodes give mixed results on chinch bugs. A Canadian field study found S. carpocapsae (the nematode in Ecomask) promising when used with a wetting agent (a product that helps water soak in), but not proven. S. carpocapsae products are labeled for chinch bugs.

In university research, the timing that worked best was early to mid summer (June to August), when the nymphs are active. Apply in the evening, and water the lawn well before and after.

How to apply

Treat with Ecomask.

When: Anytime the soil is not frozen.

Where: Spray the damaged patches and a few feet of green grass around their edges.

See How to apply for step-by-step directions, or use the calculator on the Ecomask Spray page to see how much you need.