chinch bugs

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 22:39:58
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Sharon Labchuk <slabchuk@isn.net>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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>Hello all,
>
>Does anybody out there know of any non-toxic, biodegradable concoctions or
>methods to control cinch bug infestations on lawns? 

I get all kinds of calls about chinch bugs every summer.  I've never had
them but I advocate a regime from a book called "Common Sense Pest Control"
by Olkowski, Daar and Olkowski. The authors are scientists with many years
experience in designing least-toxic management programs for pests.  Here's
what they do:

Chinch bugs are attracted to lawns that have too much thatch, are
drought-stressed and have either too little nitrogen or too much in a
highly soluable form that forces grass to grow too rapidly.  Populations
increase in hot dry conditions. Infested lawns often have compacted soil.
Some common insecticides reduce populations of beneficial organisms that
prey on chinch bugs.

1. Aerate in spring and use a slow-release nitrogen.  Irrigate as required
in hot weather to maintain adequate soil moisture.  Repeat aeration and
fertilization in fall.

2.  Monitor once a month beginning in mid-June to detect bugs, especially
in lawn borders. It's easier to deal with the bugs when populations are
small.To monitor:  Cut the ends off a coffe can and push one end into the
lawn a few inches.  Fill the can with water unter it doesn't recede.  If
bugs are present they'll float to the top in 5 or 10 minutes.  If damage
has already occurred and you are trying to identify the cause, place the
can at the edge of the damaged area where the bugs are feeding on fresh
grass. You obviously need to know what the bugs look like. 

3. Remove small infestations with soap-and-flannel traps. Put 1 ounce of
dish soap in a 2 gallon sprinkling can and drench a 2 square-foot infested
area. Larger areas can be covered by putting the soap in a hose attachment
meant for applying pesticides.  The bugs will crawl to the surface of the
grass in two or three minutes.  Next, lay a piece of white cloth, like
flannel, over the area.  Wait 15 or 20 minutes, then look.  The bugs feet
tend to get their feet caught in the fabric and you can put the cloth in a
bucket of soapy water to remove them.

4.  Treat large infestations with insecticidal soap, like Safer's.

5.  For the annually plagued lawn, consider replacing existing grass with
resistant varieties.  The authors list some.



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