Larvae form silken tunnels covered with soil particles, and these are attached to the base of plants. The larva burrows into the stalk. Hot, dry conditions combined with sandy soils enhance the damage potential by this pest. Economic Threshold Do not allow stands to be reduced below the suggested plant population for the row spacing being used. The legs and base of antennae are red.
Nymphs are bright red but become darker with maturity.
Damage The nymph and adult stages have piercing-sucking mouthparts, and damage is caused by removal of plant sap that results in severe stunting and sometimes death of the plant. Hot, dry weather early in the season, before plants reach 18 inches in height, favors the buildup of chinch bugs. When scouting, check the base of seedlings, behind the leaf sheath, and the soil at the base of the plant for nymphs and adults. Economic Threshold Randomly select several sites in a field to determine the level of infestation and presence of damage. If you find an average of two or more adult chinch bugs on 20 percent of the seedlings less than 6 inches high, apply an insecticide.