Chinch bugs are usually most damaging during:

• A. Hot, dry weather
• B. Cool, wet weather
• C. High humidity
• D. Mild temperatures

Answer: (A)

Chinch bugs injure turf most when the grass is stressed by heat and drought. They feed on the plant sap, and in hot, dry conditions the turf can’t recover quickly, so the damage shows up as yellowing or bronze patches that spread. Cool, wet weather keeps the grass healthier and the bugs less able to cause severe injury, so the damage isn’t as pronounced. High humidity or mild temperatures aren’t the main drivers of their impact; heat and lack of moisture on the turf create the perfect stress that makes chinch bugs most damaging.