ScientificName: Blissus insularis

Description: 3/16-inch, black bodies with white wings that have triangular black marks on them.

Habitat/Food: Chinch bugs live in lawns (particularly St. Augustine), grasses, and some agricultural crops such as corn. They feed on the juice of the host plant and inject a toxin that prevents the plant from absorbing water, which eventually kills it. Most damage is localized and then spreads as the population increases.

Life Cycle: Adults become active in the spring and females lay their eggs by the host plants. Nymphs hatch and feed completing there life cycle in about six weeks.

Organic Control: Diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap for spot treatment, or citrus oil sprays can be used for direct control. It is also a good idea to fertilize with liquid compost to aid the infected area in its re-growth.

Interesting Fact: A coffee can with both ends cut out can be used to detect the number of chinch bugs present. Force one end of the can into the soil, fill with water, then watch for chinch bugs to float to the top.