6/14/2022 - By Tristan Rosado

Memorial Day weekend is the start of summer for many of us. In South Florida, summer is already in full swing! With the intense temperatures and humidity rising, insect pressure in warm-season turf will soon be extremely high. The most prominent turfgrass in Floridian residential settings (in South Florida specifically) is St. Augustine grass.

Chinch Bugs and St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine is a strain of turfgrass susceptible to many different types of insects this time of the year. Armyworms and sod webworms are just a couple that can cause quick damage, but the chinch bug is the most destructive to St. Augustine grass. Depending on location, there can be multiple chinch bug life cycles per season, which can make them very difficult to control. Once chinch bug damage is visually present, it is often very difficult for St. Augustine turf to fully recover.

How to Prevent Chinch Bug Infestations

The best approach is to be proactive with timely, scheduled applications of an effective insecticide to aid in control. There are a handful of products on the market that work well in preventing chinch bug infestations. Contact your Harrell's rep for more information.

Be selective and understand the tools at your disposal for effective chinch bug control. Due to the physiology of the chinch bug, be sure to rotate IRAC codes (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) to inhibit resistance from occurring, especially in areas with multiple life cycles.

Additionally, some chemistries are only effective for quick knockdown and will not provide much residual control. Others provide residual control and help the turf through the pressures of the season, so finding an effective combination of the two will not only provide effective initial protection but preventative longevity.

Recommendations for Chinch Bug Control

Here are a couple of the industry standards for chinch bug control, as well as a new offering from Envu that utilizes two products with different IRAC codes:

• Arena WDG and G – Nufarm
• Meridian WG and G – Syngenta
• Barricor SP + Tetrino – Envu

In an emergency, FMC’s Triple Crown is an excellent option for knockdown. It provides rapid control and offers a broad spectrum list of insects its efficacy covers.

Be sure to scout your properties and keep an eye out for these bugs throughout the next few months. The floatation testing technique can be used to inspect areas where chinch bugs are suspected. But act fast! They can move quickly and cause significant damage in a short period of time. Good luck hunting, keeping your customers chinch bug free, and remember, your local Harrell's Rep is here to help!

Helpful links:

• Insecticide Resistance Action Committee
• Interactive MoA Classification | Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) (irac-online.org)
• Chinch Bug Information
• Ask IFAS: Southern Chinch Bug (ufl.edu)