Chinch bugs, the very name invokes a sense of urgency, especially to those lawn-mowing types that have seen, and had to deal with the killing off of the areas of turf that have become infested with these blade-sucking insects! Here at Kohler Mower Parts, we thought today would be a great day to offer up some tips on controlling the dreaded chinch bug. Ready? Let’s go off some bugs!

Monitoring For Chinch Bug

By inspecting the lawn, firstly, you will be able to identify any trouble spots and can take appropriate action. Pay close attention to the sidewalk areas of the lawn as chinch bugs most closely identify and congregate in the warmest parts of the lawn. As the summer sun heats up the concrete, this area of the turf becomes an attractive dining spot for chinch bugs. If you happen to see a browning area near the edge of the sidewalk or pathway then this could be the first sign of a chinch bug problem.

Coffee Can Trick

If you have already suspected a problem from grazing chinch bugs, then one trick that you can use to verify that it is indeed the work of these lawn pests is the coffee can tool. By cutting out the closed-end of a one-pound coffee can, you now have the identification tool that you will need. The next step is to grab a little bit of regular household dish soap and some water and head back out into the lawn. Locate the suspected area of infestation and carefully place the can on top. Next, depress the can about two to three inches into the turf and fill the can up with the soapy water mixture, then wait. If there are chinch bugs in that area they will float up to the top of the water and then you can decide on what specifics will be necessary to start the process of elimination of these dreaded turf killers!