West Valley MVCD

Printable brochure on false chinch bugs

False Chinch Bugs 

Nyssius

Description

False chinch bugs are blade sucking nymphs and are small and gray resembling true chinch bugs with large transparent wings.  They can release an offensive odor similar to stinkbugs.  They are approximately 5 mm long, brown and found in dead areas of turf.  Eggs are laid in loose soils or in soil cracks. They hatch in four (4) days. Nymphs feed for three weeks before reaching adulthood. Adults live for several weeks congregating on hosts. False chinch bugs are more frequently encountered on herbaceous plants although they can feed on turf when preferred food is not available.  

How to distinguish a false chinch bug from a true chinch bug?

False chinch bugs can be distinguished from true chinch bugs by the absence of  a conspicuous black triangle on the outer wing margin and by a head that is about the same width as the  shoulder.

Damage

False chinch bugs populations are usually low and do not damage turf. They suck the sap from blades and the damage appears as pale areas often with yellow streaking and chlorotic brown spots since the false chinch bug injects a toxin while feeding. Chemical control is usually not recommended and plant mortality with false chinch bugs is relatively low.