Ground Moving with Tiny Migrating Insects
Whenever
I give my ‘General Insect Pest’ presentations I include a couple of photos of
chinch bugs and their nymphs. Usually I
say something like “These are not pests every year in Indiana but can become
troublesome in years when we have a drought.”
Guess
what? That is now! The dry conditions we
are experiencing in much of the state are perfect for chinch bugs and false
chinch bugs to thrive and we are beginning to receive reports of chinch bugs by
the gazillions. Some reports are that
the ground appears to be moving due to the migration of these insects.
These
bugs belong to a family of true bugs known as the seed bugs (Lygaeidae). Adults chinch bugs are small (about 1/8
inch in length), narrow, and are gray-brown (if they are false chinch bugs), or
black and silver (if they are true chinch bugs). They deposit eggs in cracks in
the soil or on various plants in late winter or early spring. Small
reddish-brown nymphs (immatures) feed, go through a series of molts, and reach
the adult stage in approximately three weeks. Several generations may be
produced per year, especially when dry conditions abound.
True
chinch bug nymphs in thatch with reddish body separated by distinct white band
(Photo credit John Obermeyer)
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Chinch
bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts and feed by removing fluids from their
host plants. Some sources report the possibility of the injection of a toxin
during the feeding process. Damage symptoms are usually restricted to a general
wilting of the plant and heavy feeding may cause leaves to turn brown and die.
During
droughty years large populations develop primarily on weeds especially in the
mustard family and on clump grasses in rangelands, waste areas, and other
uncultivated land. As the vegetation in these areas begins to dry up, the bugs
migrate in large numbers to other more succulent food sources.
Agronomic
crops, such as corn, soybeans and alfalfa, may be damaged by the feeding of
chinch bugs. Ornamental plants,
including turfgrass can also become damaged. Damage is most likely to occur in fields,
lawns or golf courses that are adjacent to the uncultivated areas the bugs are
migrating from. Populations are extremely high along the migration "front"
and damage may occur until the bugs disperse over a wider area.
Sometimes
chinch bugs get into homes that are in their path of migration. Rest assured
that they are a nuisance only and that they will not damage the structure of
the building and are harmless to people and pets. Excluding them by sealing up cracks, broken
windows etc. will be helpful.
Chinch
bugs should only be controlled if they are causing damage. Effective chemical control generally requires
that the bugs be contacted with the insecticide. Residual control is not likely
during migration periods as bugs may not stay in treated areas for a sufficient
period of time to accumulate lethal doses of the pesticide and any insects that
are killed are merely replaced by other migrants.
Timothy J. Gibb
Purdue University Insect
Diagnostician
4 comments:
I wasn't aware that even in drought conditions pest can create problems, i am sure thee above mentioned tips can be very helpful for growers in such situations.
January 28, 2013 at 6:14 AMMigrating pests can create a lot of problems for the residents, to keep them away you have to take some necessary steps, contacting a pest control company can be helpful in that.
January 28, 2013 at 1:20 PMpest control have been widely introduced around the world to control diseases like malaria that are associated with mosquitoes.
May 21, 2013 at 5:52 AMregards
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