Aphids and Chinch Bugs: Your Lawn’s Uninvited Guests

April 15th, 2013

Your home is your most precious asset, and your lawn is, without a doubt, one of the things that make your home truly valuable. This is why pest control is so important. Uninvited guests, such as aphids and chinch bugs, can damage your lawn and gardens, ultimately lowering the value of your home.

Aphids

Aphids are small bugs, usually no larger than 1/8 of an inch long. They reproduce quickly, the female aphid being able to reproduce without mating. These pests are often found on the undersides of leaves or along the stems of plants with flowers, shade trees, ornamentals, and vegetable plants being their favorites. Aphids suck the sap from these plants, causing the leaves of the plants to become distorted and allowing for mold to grow when the aphids excrete a sticky substance onto the plant. Aphids often leave viruses behind that can harm or kill plants.

Pest control for aphids comes in a variety of forms. There are natural, or green, pest control agents and methods you can use, such as washing aphids off plants with a strong stream of water. There are also predators you can "employ" to help control aphids, such as aphid lions and lady beetles. There are also chemical pest controls you can use to get rid of aphids. In many cases, however, the best solution for aphid infestation is to contact a knowledgeable pest control company, like Green Solutions, to help determine the best route for ridding your garden of these unwanted guests.

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are another type of bug that can be harmful to your lawn. Because they are so small, about 3/16th of an inch long, they can be hard to see with the naked eye, especially if they’re buried in your lawn. But you can still easily recognize the damage done by these pests. Patches of your lawn may appear blighted even though you've watered regularly and the rest of your lawn looks great. These brown spots in your yard will gradually increase as the chinch bug population increases, spreading throughout your yard. Once they’re through destroying your lawn, they’ll often move on to neighboring yards.

So what can you do if your lawn has been infested by chinch bugs? A mild dishwashing liquid solution can be sprinkled over the infected area of the lawn. Chinch bugs also have natural predators that can help with pest control. These predators include wasps, spiders, and ants. And, of course, there are chemical forms of pest control that can help rid your lawn of chinch bugs. As with aphids, for severe infestation it's often best to consult with a professional when simple measures just can't quite give these unwanted guests the boot.

With over 80 years of industry service combined, Green Solutions Lawn Care & Pest Control has just the expertise you require in a great pest control service. Have pest control questions? We've got answers! Give us a call at (813) 413-5033 and request your Free Consultation, today!