Adults and nymphs are both problematic. Areas of damage turn yellow brown and die in sunny areas like along sidewalks and driveways. To check if your damage is caused by them, cut the ends off a tin can and push one end 2 to 3 inches into the soil. Keep it steadily filled with water for about 10 minutes, and if you have chinch bugs they will float to the surface. Adults and nymphs suck the juices out of grass blades, and in turn inject a poison back into the blades which causes them to discolor and die.
Heavy infestations can kill an entire lawn in as few as four days.
Chinch bugs are sun and heat loving, and will rarely attack a shady lawn. At the first sign of infestation, water the lawn with up to an inch of water to bring insects to the surface. Once you ve done this, apply insecticide containing isofenphos, daizinon or chlorpyrifos. To prevent recurrent damage from newly hatched eggs, treat the lawn again every two months until frost. Could be chinch bugs.