What is the primary damaging stage of the Chinch bug?

The primary damaging stage of the Chinch bug is the nymphs and adults. Both nymphs and adult Chinch bugs feed on grass by inserting their mouthparts into the plant tissue and withdrawing sap. This feeding can lead to significant damage, including yellowing and wilting of the grass.

Nymphs are immature forms that are small and wingless, while adults are larger and have wings. Both stages are capable of causing damage, but it is particularly during their presence and feeding activities that the symptoms of damage become apparent, often resulting in large, dying patches of turf.

In contrast, the eggs and larvae do not directly cause the same level of harm to the grass as the nymphs and adults. Eggs are more vulnerable and do not feed, while larvae, in the context of this pest, do not exist as Chinch bugs primarily have a life cycle consisting of eggs, nymphs, and adults. Thus, focusing on nymphs and adults reflects a more accurate understanding of the stages critical to turfgrass damage.