Southern Chinch BugEgg -- Each egg, approximately 0.84 by 0.30 mm, is flattened at one end, that end bearing 3 to 5 minute projections. Its color gradually changes from pale yellow to red before hatching.
Nymph -- The wingless nymph is smaller than but similar in shape to the adult. The head and thorax are brown; the eyes are dark red; and the abdomen is pale yellow or light red with a black top.
Host Plants -- The southern chinch bug is commonly a problem on St. Augustine grass but also infests pangola, torpedo, centipede and occasionally bermudagrass.
Damage -- Chinch bug populations are concentrated near the surface of the soil. The nymphs which extract plant juices with their needle-like mouthparts are primarily responsible for lawn damage. On St. Augustine grass, feeding is primarily restricted to the tender basal area of the grass blades and to the nodes of runners. As the nymphs feed, yellowish spots which soon become brown dead areas appear in the grass. As the grass dies, the nymphs move to the periphery of the dead spots thereby causing them to enlarge. Chinch bug damage is greatest during hot, dry weather.
Life History -- Except in southern Florida where they remain active year round, southern chinch bugs overwinter as eggs. The eggs are usually found inserted in crevices at grass nodes or between overlapping leaf blades. In spring, the eggs hatch releasing nymphs which subsequently infest lawns. Nymphs feed and develop for 2 to 6 weeks depending on weather conditions.
The new generation of adults causes little damage. Each female, however, deposits 100 to 300 eggs which hatch 2 weeks later. With 3 to 5 chinch bug generations each year (depending on latitude), lawns may be infested from spring through late fall.
