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Chinch Bugs are comparatively easier to recognize, but hard to locate. They are about 1/5” long with dark gray bodies and white wings on their backs. The newborns are yellow and they soon turn red as they age. They have white stripes across their bodies. Chinch bugs are common in Florida so if you have a lawn you have these bugs. If your lawn is healthy then the bugs are naturally controlled but if it starts to develop brown strips then the Chinch bug population may have gone out of control.

Your Lawn is Dinner to Chinch Bugs

You take care of your lawn, water it, and feed it with manure regularly, yet you notice damage to your lawn in some spots. In case you live in the south and have St.Augustine grass or zoysia grass then your lawn might be home to a whole pack of Chinch bugs. These creepy bugs suck your grass blades dry. They induce poison which eventually kills your lawn, hence the brown strips. But you can prevent and manage chinch bugs.

How to confirm a Chinch Bug Breakout

Chinch bugs are not easy to locate, but you can find them. If you bend down on your lawn and try to see these bugs and still can’t then try the tin can method. Cut out both ends of a tin can and push the end of the tube into the ground, pour some water and let it be for about ten minutes. If you see chinch bugs floating to the surface then you have many of these nasty bugs in your lawn. Chinch bugs vary from pink to red in color and they have white stripes across their bodies.

If your grass has brown strips that show damage in areas especially along the sidewalks then your lawn is already dinner to these bugs. Yellow or dried out dead grass spots mean you have these bugs. If you have checked for chinch bugs and you’re still not sure then call a professional before your lawn dies. You can use insect killers to prevent and kill chinch bugs, but it’s best to call in a professional to do it who knows how to use these chemicals.

 Controlling Chinch Bugs

Pesticides do not work on chinch bugs since they have become immune to them. Even DDT won’t help because chinch bugs are resistant to them since the early 1950s. There are a number of insecticides that eliminate chinch bugs, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. Acephate which is made of bifenthrin and acephate has been the best insecticide that has yielded excellent results over the years in eliminating chinch bugs. This can be done by the homeowner, but it’s recommended you call in a professional to help. Talstar is the best insecticide in eliminating these bugs and turf pests such as mole crickets, ants and other lawn bugs.

For better results, water the area before applying these insecticides. Spread the insecticide equally throughout the lawn and water the area again after application. Where the population of chinch bugs is a lot, treat it every 2 weeks until you’ve killed the bugs and also the newly hatched.

One of the easiest ways to control these bugs is to make sure that the top layer of soil is moist. But the lawn should be moist and not saturated. Healthy lawns are green and the ones with a brown or yellow tone are infested with chinch bugs. If the lawn is not on even turf then peaks tend to dry of faster so it is important to maintain the moisture level. In Florida, chinch bugs are common and you might need professional help in getting rid of them. If you try things on your own it might be too late to save your lawn.

If you suspect chinch bugs, then call a professional lawn care specialist who understands lawn pests. A professional will know exactly which pesticide to use to destroy the chinch bugs and hopefully save your lawn. Use a hose end sprayer to spray Talstar liquid at the rate of ½ ounce per 1000 square feet. If you opt for granules then apply them at the rate of 25 pounds per ¼ acre and irrigate immediately after applying the insecticide. Removal of thatch is essential to eliminate the conditions that are favorable for chinch bugs to survive. Nitrogen fertilization slows chinch bug reproduction although if these are St. Augustine then they are heavy feeders and prefer fertilizer and other grasses.

Gardening is something most people have a passion about. It requires countless hours to grow and maintain plants and it can be frustrating when you see your garden in trouble due to pests. Killing these pests may look simple enough to do, but is a complicated task, which first requires an understanding of these worms. Sod Webworms are not like other worms. With more than 20 types, each different from the other, you must first understand their life cycle to exterminate them permanently.

As Sod Webworms are different from other types of worms, treating your garden to exterminate them requires some background about their life cycle. A Sod Webworm has 3 stages of life from an egg to pupa to a larval with a full life cycle of 5 weeks. A fully grown worm is called a moth and cannot harm your garden. However, it can lay eggs which can multiply and cause trouble. While larval is the only stage in the worm’s life cycle that can destroy your plants and in turn your garden.

The sod webworms are not big and are difficult to detect. They only measure up to.5 to .75 inches and have brown spots on their body. Each worm is different in color, ranging from tan to gray. The best place to look for webworms is near a shade. They tend to live in flower beds and turfs though they do not feed on it, they may lay eggs nearby.

A larval, which is the only stage dangerous in a Sod Webworm’s life cycle, can vary from .75 to 1 inch in length. There are many Sod worms which you can find in your garden if you are living in Florida. Their peak season is from June to August. As soon as winter arrives, these worms tend to diminish as they are unable to survive the cold weather.

Is pesticide the only option for extermination?

Although treating your garden with a spray of pesticides can be helpful, it should not be practiced. The treatment involves specific technical instruments and the use of poison which requires safety gear. That is why it is highly advised to call for a professional service to handle all the hard work. Doing a treatment yourself is not only dangerous but mostly unsuccessful as the whole termination process involves at least 2 to 3 applications of pesticides.

A single spray of pesticides may show you some results but in the long run you will see more worms in your garden that will be stronger than the previous ones. This is because the first application only kills the living caterpillar and not the eggs or pupa. The pupa usually goes underground where the caterpillar leaves a silver lining that serves as a sealant from pesticide applications. The sealant protects the worm by blocking the pesticide to enter the burrow.

The second application is the only solution to this problem. It will make sure that as soon as the egg hatches, a pesticide spray will kill them and stop further production. The newly hatched caterpillars also have a stronger immune system so killing them as soon as they are born is very important.

Considering all the reasons mentioned, a complete know how of the webworms and their life cycle is very important if you want to completely eradicate pests from your garden.

During autumn, squirrels assess the territory in which they live for potential shelter in which they can spend the winter. If your house has points at which they can chew their way in, they might choose your attic as their winter home. After all, it’s filled with cozy insulation; it’s warm; and there are no predators.

Although squirrels seem so adorable as you see them scamper through the tree branches, they can actually cause quite a bit of damage to your yard and your home, according to pest control experts. Furthermore, squirrels carry a wide variety of diseases, according to a paper published by Florida Health. To protect your property and family, you need to evict these unwanted guests. Here are some tips from pest control professionals:

Evict Squirrels From Your Home

The only way to keep squirrels out of your home for good is to have a pest control professional remove the pests and seal off any possible entry points. Otherwise, squirrels will gnaw through wood and other materials to create a passageway into your home, causing damage at their entry points and exposing your family to diseases they carry.  

Evict Squirrels From Your Yard

Even the trees in your yard can fall victim to squirrel damage. Since squirrels eat tree bark, they can strip entire branches of their protective covering, causing the affected branches to die and drop off your trees. A University of Florida report has more information about how to protect your trees from this kind of squirrel-caused damage.

Squirrels, who feed on plant matter, may wreak havoc in your garden. Not only will they eat your produce, but they may also dig up your plant bulbs for food. If you create a protective wire mesh cover for your garden, squirrels are less likely to gain access. Make sure that the weave of the mesh is ¼ inch or less and covers the top as well. Squirrels can squeeze into larger openings, according to a study published by Wildlife Damage Control.

To discourage squirrels from meandering into your yard in the first place, remove uneaten pet food or feed your pets inside. Clear out any yard debris that could provide shelter for squirrels or other pests. Check your bird feeders to make sure that they are not overfilled, broken, or spilling food.

Enlist the Help of Pest Control Professionals

Because state laws protect squirrels from removal by amateurs, it’s important for you to call in professional help when squirrels invade your home. These highly-trained experts will not only remove the squirrels from your property safely, but they will also clean up and seal your home after they remove the squirrels. When you know that the squirrels are gone for good, the peace of mind you’ll have is well worth the price of professional removal.

People who live in the Southern U.S. are particularly vulnerable to termite home invasions, particularly drywood termite infestations. If you live in that region and are in the market for a home, ask if the wooden parts of the homes you consider were pre-treated for drywood termites prior to construction. According to a University of Florida study, that is the only way to assure yourself that your new home will not become home to a huge colony of drywood termites as well.

If, however, you have already purchased a home, you may need a few tips to deal with these destructive creatures.

Know Your Enemy

Termites live by consuming dead wood. Whether it’s branches, fallen trees, or your living room floor, it’s all a feast to them. Drywood termites are especially dangerous to homes because they don’t need as much moisture to survive as other termites. That means that even though your home is well-protected against moisture, it may still be vulnerable to these pests.  

Because they spend their lives inside the wood, it is difficult to detect their presence. They may have chewed through a support beam before you discover their arrival. If you don’t know if your home was treated before its construction, it may be a good idea to have it checked by a pest control expert before the creatures do serious damage to your home, particularly if you live in an area in which drywood termite infestations are more common, such as the American South.

Hire an Inspector

Your local pest control professional first will check your home for evidence of a termite infestation. She or he will look for termite droppings, shed wings (which are a sign that a swarm has occurred recently), and damaged wood.

Treat the Infestation and Prevent Reoccurrences

If your pest control professional finds that drywood termites have invaded your home, she or he will next suggest a treatment plan. The best pest control companies usually will recommend that you have your entire home sealed off from the outside by a special tent and completely fumigated. Only fumigation can reach parts of your home that can’t be treated by methods such as dusting and borate applications.