Organic Chinch Bug Control

April 11th, 2010 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests



The Chinch bug is the biggest pest faced by St. Augustine grass. The Chinch bug prefers this grass because it grows all over the world, giving the Chinch bug endless opportunities to feast.

chinch bug

As a species of beetle, the Chinch bug gathers in swarms to feed upon this grass and reproduce. However, controlling this species of beetle is a lot easier than you would think.

Want to learn more?


The Chinch Bug

Feeding Habits
The Chinch bug feeds upon multiple species of grass, but prefers St. Augustine grass above all other types. They have straw-like mouths that suck the plant juices and tissues out of the grasses and plants they feed upon.

While sucking food matter out of the grass; they inject chemicals that tend to clog the plant’s vascular system. This subsequently makes the plant turn yellow and eventually kills it in the process.

Life Cycle
Chinch bugs take about 30-90 days to reach full adulthood. A female cinch bug lays about 20 eggs per day over a span of 2 weeks. These eggs hatch in about a week, feeding extensively on plants and various grasses in their direct area.

They eventually grow from nymph stage to adulthood after feeding aggressively on local plant life. Multiple generations thrive during the summer at any one time because they lay such a large amount of eggs all throughout the year.


St. Augustine Grass

This species of grass can be found throughout the Gulf Coast, the United States, Southern Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, South Africa, Western Africa, Australia, most of the South Pacific, and the Hawaiian Islands.

grass

This species of tropical grass can thrive in almost any climate, which helps make it a favorite of the Chinch bug. St. Augustine grass is long, green, coarse, and textured. This species of grass can grow for miles or can remain in a small patch, dependent on the conditions of the environment it lives in.


Organic Bug Control

Chinch bug elimination is actually not very difficult. If you water your St. Augustine grass in the summer often, you can help your grass tolerate the damage the Chinch bug dishes out. Watering is a natural and easy way to protect your grass and plants from the continued attacks of the Chinch bug.

Another method of effective home garden pest control is EcoSMART’s organic pesticides. These Insect Killer for Lawn & Landscapes, Insect Killer Granules for Lawns & Landscapes and Garden Insect Killer products l are safe for use around children, pets, and the environment. The primary active ingredients found in EcoSMART products are approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

These ingredients and oils used in EcoSMART products are also often used in cosmetics, beverages, cake, candy, lipstick, gum, and more. Therefore, using EcoSMART’s many pest control products can go a long way towards continued pest control and still be safe around the entire family.




  1. 23 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Tim Carr on May 19, 2010

    I live in Florida and Chinch bugs are a constant problem!!!

    One problem I have is that a lot of our water run off goes into a pond and I know a lot of fertilizers and chemicals are terrible for ponds. I would be interested to know how these product might affect the pond behind me if washed into it.

  3. By Tracy Campbell on May 24, 2010

    If you are still looking for testers, I am just beginning to take care of our lawn myself and would love to try your products!

  4. By Jennifer Ward on May 25, 2010

    I can’t wait to test the treatment for Chinch bugs!~

  5. By Amanda Sprague on May 25, 2010

    Can’t wait to give it a try on my grass!

  6. By Jarrett Phillips on May 27, 2010

    I am a professional landscaper with 15years of experience in central florida. I will put your product to the test!

  7. By Toni Klein on Jun 4, 2010

    I would love to test your product; I live on a canal that goes directly in to the Gulf of Mexico.

  8. By Stacey Davis on Jun 9, 2010

    New homeowner trying to do everything green. Would love to be a tester. I live in Florida and have St. Augustine grass.

  9. By Thomas on Jun 26, 2010

    Looking for natural and inexpensive solutions for St. Augustine and willing to test.

    I am in Deland, Florida.

    Thnaks

  10. By John Cook on Aug 21, 2010

    Is it too late to get in on this? I live in Orlando and I’m almost ready to pave my lawn over and paint it green but, if this works, you will have made me a very happy cinch bug hater.

  11. By Mike on Aug 22, 2010

    I have tried a few things and still have cinch bugs! I just had true green out and they said the initial application would cost $150 and then $80 every 4-6 weeks there after. Theres got to be a product to do this myself. 1/3 of my yard is dead so I want to keep what I have left. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

  12. By Shirley London on Aug 29, 2010

    Would love to try, I have Chinch bugs now on my lawn. And with pets I’m always looking for something safe to use on the lawn for them.

    I live in Florida

  13. By Amy on Sep 9, 2010

    If you are still looking for testers in the Central Florida area, I’m all in! I am new to St. Augustine grass & need to find something that I can do to care for it without tons of nitrogen & pesticides.

  14. By Michael Buxton on Oct 7, 2010

    Would really like to test your products.

  15. By Dylan on Oct 29, 2010

    I live just north of Orlando, FL and continue to fight a battle against chinch bugs. I would love to find something that would kill them and yet not damage our environment.

  16. By Porter on Feb 19, 2011

    I am in Sarasota – the west-central Florida (Tampa Bay) area – and am interested in finding an organic deterrent / eliminator for the bugs in my lawn. I’d love to give your products a try.
    Thanks

  17. By Victor R on May 29, 2011

    Chinch bug invasion; they have become inmune to other types of insecticide. Willing to try anything. Central Florida area – St. Augustine grass.

  18. By WAYNE RHOADS on Jul 4, 2011

    I want to be a tester in MS.

  19. By Claude LeFrancois on Jul 4, 2011

    I live in Florida. Major issues here with Chinch bugs. I also own and operate a private school and would love to test the product personally at home and with my students in my school yard.

  20. By Chris C. on Jul 7, 2011

    I’d like to try your product ASAP, tks.

  21. By annette ramey on Jul 26, 2011

    My grass is under attack by chinch bugs! I would love to be a tester?

  22. By Dottie Ward on Aug 9, 2011

    I live in Houston and have St. Augustine grass. I have battled chinch bugs almost every summer in the portions of my lawn next to the concrete driveway, and the strip between the curb and sidewalk. Even though we’re experiencing such a tremendous drought, chinch bug damage has just started to appear very recently. I have purchased a bag of your insect killer granules, but haven’t yet applied it, and am holding out hope that it will drastically reduce the chinch bug population. I would appreciate an opportunity to test your complete line of products.

  23. By Yva M on Aug 10, 2011

    Our front yard is overrun with chinch bugs. We are in eastern NC and have St. Augustine grass. I’d love to try your product. Please help us!

  24. By RICHARD PLUESE on Aug 15, 2011

    OUR LANDSCAPING COMPANY IS VERY INTERESTED IN TESTING YOUR ORGANIC CHINCH BUG CONTROL. PLEASE CONTACT US TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS FOR TESTING AND REPORTING RESULTS.
    CELL PHONE 727-723-4007

23 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers! (details)