It’s getting hot out there, which means chinch bugs are becoming more and more active. Make sure to water your lawn properly to keep these bugs happy. Chinch bugs live down in the thatch layer of the grass. With the cooler soil, this is where they lay eggs and stay content. If your lawn becomes too dry, chinch bugs travel to the surface and begin to feed on the blades of grass. Once chinch bugs start to feed, they inject a poison into the grass itself. Which will result in the lawn dying! This damage can start in one area and spread throughout in a matter of days. This all can be prevented with a proper watering schedule.
If you do come across a chinch bug infestation you will want to apply an insecticide such as Bifenthrin. This will kill the bugs fairly quickly. However, it will not fix the damage that has already been done.