Chinch Bug Control

Chinch bugs are a very common, invasive turf insect found in Ottawa and the surrounding rural communities. When in their immature state, the very small nymph is bright red with an evident white patch on their back. They then metamorphosize to be black with a white spot on their back, once they have reached their adult form. As it matures, the coloring changes from red to orange to brown, and finally black.

Active infestations typically scurry around in the thatch of your lawn and will produce golden brown patches, that can start as early as June. Infestations can spread through the summer months and become most detrimental when higher levels of heat and drought occur. Following proper cultural practices, specifically watering, will help deter them from feeding excessively as they prefer a hot and dry environment.

Start by spreading the lawn where the green and brown turf areas meet, to break the thatch layer, as this will expose any active chinch bugs. They are very small and can be seen in both their nymph and adult stages when inspecting golden brown spots.

Preventing and reducing extensive damage can now be done with our natural approach to minimizing active infestations. BioTitan is a treatment used to prevent excessive damage and works best when applied prior to yellow spots being noticed. BioTitan is designed to adhere to the skin of the target pest, then start to cause an infection before effectively neutralizing the insect. Most importantly, this application is completely safe for children, pets, adults, and the environment. Application efficacy is best in June and July, however, reduction is possible to infestations between August and September when necessary.