As some of you may be aware I have taken on a challenge to train a wild mustang for 100 days in the American Extreme Mustang Makeover. It has been both a humbling challenge and exhilarating opportunity for me to compete in this event and represent Natchez in front of the nation in September. I want to thank everyone for their support and inspiring words. Mostly, I want to give a special thank you to Kenny Jackson at Great River Chevrolet and Moose Tolbert at Farm Bureau Insurance for helping offset some of the cost by helping sponsor Silverado. Finally, thank you to Ben Hillyer and Patrick Ochs with The Natchez Democrat for helping publicize it to you.

After the recent rains your lawns are probably growing enough some of you may have taken on mowing as a part-time hobby. Even though reports of lawn damage by insects and diseases have been down this year we have still received a few calls about lawn damage and disease control, primarily in St. Augustine lawns. Here is some help.

Q. How do I know if I have chinch bugs?

A. St. Augustine has two common problems that cause the grass to die off in brown circles or irregular shapes, brown patch or chinch bugs. Brown patch is a disease that should not be confused with chinch bugs; it usually looks like circles that are symmetrical, whereas chinch bugs usually cause grass to die off in irregular shapes as the insect moves outward.

Chinch bugs are major pests of St. Augustine lawns, but they are rarely a problem in other types of grasses. Chinch bugs especially favor the more sunny areas of the lawn, and damage will likely occur in these areas first. Therefore you will first start seeing problems in open areas of your lawn that receive full sun. Chinch bugs tend to be of greater concern during prolonged dry periods. Adult chinch bugs are approximately 1/5 of an inch or less in length and are black with white wings that are folded in an ‘X’ over their back. The nymphs, or immature chinch bugs, are red with a light-colored band across the back.

While feeding, they inject a toxin, and it is this toxin that causes heavily infested areas to turn yellow, then brown, and eventually die. It is best to scout turf on sunny days by parting the stems and looking for the small, reddish nymphs and/or the black and white adults in the crown region or running across the exposed soil. Another method is to remove both ends of a gallon-sized can, press one end of the can two to three inches into the turf, and then fill the can approximately half full with water. If chinch bugs are present, they will float to the top within a few minutes.

For control of chinch bugs, liquid treatments are usually more effective than granular treatments. Many of the liquid insecticides are available in ready-to-use hose-end applicators, which is a convenient way for homeowners to apply chinch bug treatments. Some insecticides that are effective include Sevin Concentrate Bug Killer, Triazicide Soil & Turf Insect Killer Concentrate, or Hi-Yield 38 Plus Turf, Termite & Ornamental Insect Concentrate.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at dcarter@ext.msstate.edu.