IPM Home > Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, The false chinch bug, Nysius raphanus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), is a small insect commonly found within grassy or weedy fields, pastures,Each spring, once the plants in these areas dry up, the false chinch bug migrates to find new places to feed. nuisance for homeowners when these bugs migrate into their landscapes and homes and can cause problems for gardeners and farmers. False chinch bug problems often are most serious in years with wet,Above average rainfall encourages abundant growth of weeds and grasses in areas with natural vegetation. and early summer weather prolongs the survival of these plants, resulting in greater increases in false chinch bug populations, which reproduce Adults are grayish-brown, slender, and about 1/8 to 1/6 inch long. many other insects in the order Hemiptera, their forewings are partly thickened and partly membranous so when folded, the tips of the wings
overlap, forming a fairly well-defined X on the back of the body (Figure 1). stages (nymphs) lack wings and, from a distance, look like individual coffee grounds in size and color. Nymphs are a mottled gray brown often with reddish or orangish markings on the abdomen (Figure 2). Both immature and adult false chinch bugs feed on plants through a proboscis, a hypodermic-needlelike structure they use to probe into plant tissue and drink up plant fluids. This type of feeding can cause severe damage to plants that are unable to compensate for lost leaf tissue and sap. Don’t confuse false chinch bugs with other similar-looking bugs in the same family, the seed bug family Lygaeidae. bugs, which are wider and have larger eyes, are beneficials that feed on pest insects and mites (Figure 3). never occur in abundance as do false chinch bugs. Another Lygaeid, the southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis, sometimes feeds on turfgrass, but rarely
does it significantly damage lawns in California, except for St. Augustine grass. Adults of this species are black with whitish wings. False chinch bugs spend the winter as nymphs and adults, usually in uncultivated areas beneath debris or in plants, often feeding on mustards or other winter annual plants. As new spring plant growth increases, so do populations of false chinch bugs. Adults lay eggs in soil cracks or loose soil around plants. After hatching, nymphs feed on weeds, especially mustards, molt three times, and develop into adults in about three weeks. There can be several generations a year. As weedy mustards and other cruciferous plants dry out and die, false chinch bugs move into irrigated crops or landscapes. Adults are good flyers and canFalse chinch bugs tend to aggregate in large groups on plants or on walls of houses. In normal years, false chinch bugs are considered a pest only of seedlings. Plants might wilt but only rarely die.
Larger annual plants and established perennials have sufficient size to be relatively unaffected by attacksHowever, when populations are high in wet years, the sheer numbers of these pests can cause alarm for farmers and homeowners alike. Homeowners have been particularly hard hit, as waves of these insects completely envelop garden and landscape plants. stated that it appears as if the ground is moving. chinch bugs often are able to get underneath sliding screen patio doors and enter into homes, where they become a nuisance. In rare situations, aggregations of false chinch bugs can result in plant and tree decline, and there have been reports of these bugs killing young almond, pistachio, pomegranate, and citrus trees. This level of damage typically is reported only from the lower San Joaquin Valley. Initial symptoms include wilting and a scorched appearance to the leaves, followed by total plant death; probing and feeding from this pest essentially can suck young trees dry.
decline of young trees often is so rapid many entomologists have hypothesized the false chinch bug injects a toxin into the plant as part of the feeding process. There are few management options for the false chinch bug in gardensLow numbers do not need to be managed, because most garden plants can tolerate some feeding. Keep plants well irrigated to compensate for loss of sap due to chinch bug feeding. If your garden is near an uncultivated area with a lot of mustard, you might want to consider using row covers or caps to protect vegetable seedlings until migration had Usually the mass migration lasts only one week at most. move predominantly in the cooler mornings or late evenings, so water sprinkling can help reduce movement during these two periods. a water moat around gardens also can reduce insect infestation. Prevent entry into houses by making sure screens on windows and patio doors are intact and sealing up other entryways.
Some pest control companies or homeowners will apply a pesticide around the perimeter of the house to keep the bugs out. However, these products have very short residual, meaning they can save you from insects in your yard today but have little effect on those that arrive tomorrow. A better approach is to seal upIf bugs get into houses, vacuum them up. WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS UC ANR Publication 74153 Authors: D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co.; J. Bentley, UC Statewide IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier. Produced by University of California Statewide IPMAluminium Flyscreens, Re-Meshing Service & Sliding Screen Doors Avalon flyscreen service offers quality flyscreens at very reasonable prices. Our business trades on its reputation and is held in the highest regard. Aluminium framed flyscreens are available for almost any situation in fixed, hinged or sliding styles. We offer 2 frame sizes (9mm and 11mm), in 14 colours.