The name “chinch bug” is not all that well-known in Calgary, however residents of certain southeast areas have been aware of them for years. Normally prevalent in the Mackenzie, Auburn Bay and Copperfield communities, over the past couple of years chinch bugs have been steadfastly making their way around the city. Last summer they were spotted in every quadrant of the city, and have even managed to make their way to Airdrie and Chestermere.
It’s during hot and dry patches of summers that chinch bugs begin to gain their footing, as these are the environments they thrive in. And despite the odd patch of rain (usually in the form of a torrential downpour), Calgary remains very dry, along with the rest of the province. Left unchecked, chinch bugs can completely destroy a lawn within the span of a single summer.
How do you know you have chinch bugs?
The tiny chinch bug is less than 5 millimetres long and can move surprisingly fast, covering about 120 metres in an hour by either flying or walking (they usually prefer using their feet to get around). From the family Blissidae, adult chinch bugs are black with a white spot on their back between their wings. The nymph chinch bug, which is just a juvenile, is bright red with noticeable white bands across its back and does not have wings. As they grow, the colouring will change from orange, to brown, to black.
Detecting chinch bugs early on is essential for preventing damage to your plants. One key indicator is if you and your neighbours are all suffering the same symptoms at the same time.
Signs of chinch bugs to look out for:
- Yellowing and wilting patches of grass that you don’t have pets to blame on are an initial sign of a chinch big infestation. Chinch bugs feed on the sap of grass, attacking crowns and stems, leaving them yellow, wilted, or brown. Small patches of damaged grass may appear initially, and can expand fast if left untreated.
- If your yellow patches are appearing in sun-exposed areas only to start, this is a good sign of a chinch bug. They prefer sunny areas with minimal shade, so they’re often in hotspots such as sidewalks, driveways, or areas near the foundation of buildings.
- Chinch bugs produce a waxy substance that can be seen on the stems and leaves of grass they have been in contact with. If you look close, you may notice the molted skins or cast exoskeletons of nymphs as they grow.
- When chinch bugs feed on grass it becomes water-stressed, leading to increased susceptibility to drought and other environmental stressors. If you notice areas of your lawn that remain dry or fail to respond to watering, it could be a sign of chinch bug infestation.
How to get rid of chinch bugs
If you think you might have cinch bug activity, we at Mirage can help. We have trained horticulturists and pest-control professionals on staff who can provide expert advice that will match the level of your infestation. In most cases, chinch bugs should be treated with commercial-level products that require application training and expertise but that also will not place your yard or pets in jeopardy.
Without treatment, chinch bugs have been known to completely eradicate lawns to the point that they need to be completely replaced with new sod or re-seeding. Depending on the extent of the damage, this can be an expensive venture.
Other Calgary pests to watch out for
Depending on the weather and circumstances, the different types of pests in Calgary come and go, but these are some of the most common:
- Aphids cause yellowed and wilting leaves and leave a fine a black scum underneath. Try directing a strong spray of water underneath the leaves to knock the aphids off and leave them for other insects, such as the ever-helpful ladybug.
- Black knot disease is a fungus that mainly attacks Maydays in Calgary. Smaller knots can be hard to spot, which is why all Mayday owners should be conscientious about their upkeep. Often black knot disease isn’t noticed until the tree begins to die. Maydays should be pruned regularly by experts and treated with fungicide.
- Shrubs and trees infected with oystershell scale will have a bumpy appearance like, of course, the shell of an oyster. When the bug hatches mid-June, they permanently attach themselves to branches and form a defensive shell. Oystershell scale is often not identifiable until a plant is heavily infested, but pruning back infected branches and treating your tree or shrub with an insecticidal soap right when the eggs hatch can help. Otherwise, the plant might need treatment with a pesticide.
- Most commonly found in poplars and aspens, bronze leaf disease turns leaves an orange- or reddish-brown, starting at the edge of the leaf and working in. Affected areas should be pruned out by a certified arborist, as tools need to be treated properly in order to not spread the disease, and branches must be disposed of properly.
- Elm scale strikes elm trees, the damage from which is normally apparent by the middle of July. Leaves will begin to wilt and die, then twigs and branches as the disease moves further into the tree. You may be able to control elm scale by giving your tree lots of tender loving care with plenty of water, and hose down the affected areas.
Report the dreaded red lily beetle
The red lily beetle can absolutely destroy lilies. Watch for signs of chewing (holes in leaves) and bright red creepy crawlies that look somewhat like a ladybug. Female red lily beetles lay crimson or orange eggs under the leaves, which quickly turn into bulging brown larvae that will kill the leaf while hatching more lily beetles.
If you spot a red lily beetle, you can pick it off by hand, and experts recommend dropping it into a bucket filled with soapy water. Diatomaceous earth is also a natural remedy, as it will dry out these beetles’ bodies and kill them off. Put it directly onto their bodies if you have a severe problem.
Be sure to report spotting the red lily beetle to Alberta’s lily organizations. This helps to determine how bad the problem is and where mitigation could help control infestation. The parasitic wasp Tetrastichus setifer, native to Asia, has recently been released in southern Alberta and does a great job at eating up the pests. If you see red lily beetles, please take a picture and contact Alberta Regional Lily Society (lilybeetle@arls-lilies.org), Ken Fry, PhD, at Olds College (KFry@oldscollege.ca) and Carlton University (lilybeetletracker.weebly.com).
Count on Mirage Landscaping for all your property maintenance needs
Mirage Landscaping is a family-owned company that has been specializing in helping property owners in southeast Calgary keep their homes and businesses looking great for low prices for three generations. We deliver affordable landscape maintenance and landscape construction services that exceed customer expectations. Familiarize yourself with our work by browsing our online portfolio of just a few of our past projects.
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