Chinch Bugs (and Mole Crickets) in St. Augustine Grass? Treating with Bifen I/T

[@BlackHoleDIY]

UPDATE: I reached out to the local county extension office, who passed my information on to the NC State Extension. The response from the entomologist identified the insects as delphacid planthoppers. "These are delphacid planthoppers and likely Syndelphax fulvidorsum: bugguide.net/node/view/33557. Many have short black wings, but some in the population are lighter colored and have long wings. They should not cause damage to the turf, but if it looks like it then let me know..." Since first discovering them, I'm seeing these planthoppers throughout the entire yard, in healthy grass, as well. So, at this time I can't say that they are causing the damage. I'm still studying/learning a lot about turf/pest management and I've convinced myself that the thin damaged areas of the lawn are damage from disease and/or mole crickets.

[@henryflores7492]

0:59 Thank you! after days n days of looking through videos and pictures of lawn bugs your video is the only one that shows exactly what I have in my lawn. Planthoppers!!!! I finally found you…

[@BlackHoleDIY]

Hi Henry. Not a while lot of content out there on planthoppers. I'm glad my extension office was able to help. 2+ years later and I still have them in the lawn. They don't appear to do any harm, so I've just embraced the fact that I have them.

[@Mariobicy]

Enjoying your videos, also have St Augustine, I'm very new to lawn care, keep up the good work!

[@BlackHoleDIY]

Thank you, Mario! I really appreciate your feedback. I'm glad you're finding the videos helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@Methodical2]

Fortunately, Bifen I/T treats planthoppers. so you should be good. Do you have any updates on the treatment? Man, it's a constant battle isn't it? I have an area in my backyard where it abuts with the common area and every year without fail, those chinch bugs start infesting my yard from the common area into my backyard. It's like there's a chinch bug manufacture back there. I am battling it now. I have to spray further into the common area to develop a buffer zone. I do this will all applications (i.e. insecticide, fungicide, and herbicides).

[@BlackHoleDIY]

@Methodical2 You're exactly right... it's always something. I continue to have planthoppers throughout my st. augustine grass, but the damage, if any, is insignificant. I did confirm at the time that I had mole crickets and I think the Bifen I/T was effective in controlling/suppressing them. I will likely apply another treatment in the fall to treat any active nymphs. This video was shot in the spring, so I think I was also seeing some residual damage from lawn disease I had the previous fall. Diagnosing issues can be a challenge at times. I hope you're successful in controlling your chinch bugs. Though I haven't seen them yet, I will continue to watch for them as we are in the peak season. Thanks for your comment!

[@dallysdallys4464]

When looking for chinch bugs spread the green grass that’s close to the damage area into a part. You will see them when the grass is dry. Mole crickets grown mostly along the easement or driveways. Mole crickets love those areas. Bifen is very good but it’s a contact killer. Bifen will kill mole crickets and many more insects. It will work for chinch bugs but you will need to add a insecticide that will stay in the lawn for 30 days or more. I do this for a living. I can’t expose the BUSSINESS because if I do to some people may not need me to do what I do. You are doing good but I prefer to use a backpack. That will work but it will not last in your lawn for a long period of time. Bifen is .3 per gallon. You can double the rate but it doesn’t matter if you use more insecticide you can only kill the insect once. Bifen do not kill the eggs once you kill the first life cycle. You should only apply insecticide every 7 days if insect activity is bad. Other than that you should wait no less than 3 weeks. If you want to hear more let me know....

[@BlackHoleDIY]

Thank your for this comment and sharing your knowledge and experience! I appreciate you taking the time to provide this information. It is very helpful. My approach of using the hose-end sprayer was to apply the Bifen with larger volumes of water as suggested on the label for chinch bugs and mole crickets, versus having to refill a backpack sprayer several times. I will consider the backpack sprayer next time. Speaking of next time... my next plan of attack is to apply a treatment in the fall to kill any nymphs that would have hatched from the eggs laid in the spring. Given your experience, do you think that will be effective?

[@bretth5070]

Have you checked for grub worms? You mentioned the spongy feeling of the grass and you can basically roll the grass up like carpet following grub worm damage.

[@BlackHoleDIY]

Hi Brett. Thanks for the question. I had grub damage last year and experienced exactly what you described. This was different; the grass wouldn't pull up. I have attributed the spongy areas to the tunneling of mole crickets below the surface. Though I dont show it in this video, I did some soapy water flushes a few days later in the early evening and was able to find some tawny mole crickets.

[@bretth5070]

@@BlackHoleDIY Thanks for your reply. I am dealing with brown patches currently in my Floratam grass and still have not figured out the issue. I don't see Chinch bugs, nor do I see Grub worms so maybe I will have to try out your test for the Mole crickets.

[@BlackHoleDIY]

I've learned, and am still learning, that it's not always so obvious what the issue could be. I'm by no means an expert, but as I gain more experience I'm learning more about my lawn. Have you ruled out the possibility of disease, like large patch? The following is a great resource from NC State for information, including identification, of grasses, weeds, diseases, and insects that you may find helpful. content.ces.ncsu.edu/turfgrass-pest-management-manual

[@bretth5070]

@@BlackHoleDIY Thank you for the resource. I will definitely check into this. I have not ruled out disease especially since I have not seen the Chinch bugs or Grub worms I had anticipated, so I will definitely look into disease as well. Thanks again!

[@derrickm4327]

@@bretth5070 check for webworms

[@patjackson3874]

Chinch bugs. Nothing kills them.

[@001SapoBBQ]

While an effective form of organic pest control, nematodes do not attack all outdoor pests. ... Some of the most common lawn pests that beneficial nematodes help prevent are: fleas, ticks, Japanese beetles, chinch bugs, cut worms, wire worms, weevils, white grubs, fungus gnat larvae, and subterranean termites.

[@--Harley]

This stuff does, it's what I use and is very effective!