Chinch Bug (2026)

Warm-season lawns (St. Augustine, zoysia)

Quick answer: Chinch Bug attacks warm-season lawns (st. augustine, zoysia). Start with the organic/IPM steps below; use the chemical option only if damage escalates, and always follow the product label. Avoid excess thatch and nitrogen; overseed.

Your Chinch Bug IPM card

Select your state to see whether this pest is common there, then print.

Your state

Chinch Bug in Florida: Listed among the most-reported pests in your state — watch for it.

Chinch Bug

Targets

Warm-season lawns (St. Augustine, zoysia)

Signs

Irregular yellow patches that wilt; small black-and-white bugs.

Organic / IPM first

Reduce thatch; beneficial nematodes; proper watering.

Chemical option (follow label)

Insecticidal soap or pyrethroid spot treatment.

Prevention

Avoid excess thatch and nitrogen; overseed.

More pests

Aphids Japanese Beetle Tomato Hornworm Squash Bug Squash Vine Borer Cutworm Cabbage Maggot Whitefly

Treatments follow integrated pest management (IPM): identify first, least-toxic fix second. Product specifics and labels vary by state — confirm with your county extension.