Adult chinch bugs can reach about 8.5 mm in length and are usually black with white wings (though these insects change color several times in the nymph phase). If left untreated, plant lice will suck up the grass sap and leave yellow patches on the grass in the yard. You can deal with plant lice problems with natural pest control methods and good garden care. Non-organic pesticides are not recommended because they can kill flea predators and will cause a second outbreak in the future.
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Part 1 of 2: Coping with the Outbreak
Step 1. Check the flea population
Before you start, you need to find out how big the problem is and determine if it's plant lice. Cut the bottom of the coffee can and stick it into the grass to a depth of 5 cm. Pour soapy water until full. Do the same in several places on the lawn, especially near the yellowish patch of grass. After 10 minutes, examine the can and count how many fleas are floating on the surface:
- If you find more than 5 fleas in each can, it means a serious plague. Proceed to the next stage of treatment.
- If you find 2-4 fleas in each can, it means a low-moderate outbreak. Improve the health of the page and retest. Perform immediate maintenance if the lawn is in poor condition.
- If you find 0-1 fleas in each can, no treatment is necessary. If the page is in poor condition, there may be another problem.
- Or, you may have to examine the page more closely using a magnifying glass.
Step 2. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the page
This method is effective if you identify the outbreak early, before the tick spreads across the page:
- Use the rake to scratch the grass vigorously, about 60 cm from all sides of the damaged area, towards the center.
- Perform suction on the damaged area and its surroundings.
- Flush with water thoroughly.
Step 3. Purchase or prepare your own soap treatment
The use of insecticidal soap is considered safe and suitable for organic farming. Homemade soap treatments carry a higher risk of damaging the garden, but pure "castilian" soap or a mild product (no extra strength, anti-oil, or antibacterial) are usually safe enough when mixed with a solution of 2½ tablespoons and 4 liters of water. Stir the mixture vigorously to mix well, then pour it into a spray bottle. If using insecticidal soap, you must dissolve it according to the instructions on the package.
- This method also works most effectively if you identify the outbreak early and use it to treat small areas of the garden.
- If you have hard/hard water (water that contains certain minerals), the soap may not mix well and leave foam on the surface once the water cools down again. If this happens, make a new mixture using distilled or bottled water.
- In Canada, the use of commercial insecticidal soap for plant lice is not allowed, although this may just be a mistake. However, the use of homemade grooming soap is permitted.
- All types of soap can harm aquatic life. Do not use it if water can run into the sewer.
Step 4. Spray soapy water onto the lawn
Wet the problem area with a spray bottle or hose connection. For best results, spray in the morning or evening when the weather is cooler. If you do this during windy or hot weather (especially above 32 C), there is a higher risk of damaging the plant.
- Try not to get soap on nearby plants. Some trees and flowers are very susceptible to soap damage, especially during dry seasons.
- If you're concerned about potential damage, do a corner test first and check back after 24 hours.
Step 5. Spread a flannel sheet over the soapy area
Plant lice will take cover and get trapped in between the flannel feathers. Check again after 10-15 minutes to suck the fleas from the flannel or drown them by placing the flannel in a bucket of water.
Step 6. Repeat if necessary
Monitor the page's condition to see if you find any more bugs or widespread damage. If necessary, you can repeat the treatment with soap once a week or once every 3-4 days for serious outbreaks. The soap dissolves quickly so the lawn will be back to normal in not too long.
You may need to test the pH of the soil after the treatment is complete as soap is alkaline
Step 7. Invite the arrival of geocoris (big-eyed bugs)
You can't buy these predators, but their arrival often coincides with a plague to eat fleas. By planting a variety of flowers, you encourage the arrival of insects by giving them a place to hide and eat.
These predators are very similar to plant lice. These insects tend to be smaller and faster, with larger eyes. If you still find lots of plant aphids, while the grass looks healthy, you may have mistakenly identified this predatory species
Step 8. Take advantage of predatory insects
Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps prey on plant lice or their eggs. Although these predators are not as effective as geocoris at preying on fleas, you can easily buy them.
Nematodes (roundworms) can also help with the problem. The ability of nematodes to control pests has been proven, but there are no studies that prove their effectiveness against plant lice. You can buy it at a gardening store
Step 9. Try natural treatments with oils
Products containing "neem" oil can help control aphid populations with minimal effect on beneficial plants and insects. Spray the oil on cool, damp nights as the oil can break down or burn the plant if exposed to direct sunlight.
Some essential oils such as rosemary, lemongrass, cinnamon, or citrus can also help, but their effectiveness has not been thoroughly studied. Dilute about 20 drops of the oil in 4 liters of water, then spray it on the grass
Step 10. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth or diatomite
However, this soil can kill useful insects and earthworms and you will have to wait weeks or months before seeing results. So, use this method as the last method. Wear protective eyewear and a dust mask to avoid irritation and try not to create too much dust. Wash your hands after sprinkling it.
- Use garden and food safe diatomite only. Diatomite used for swimming pools can cause breathing problems. The safest option is unheated diatomite and contains less than 1% crystalline silica.
- Try sprinkling diatomite with a bulb applicator. This method will reduce the risk of dust getting into your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Sprinkle diatomite on wet grass, for example after it rains or after watering the lawn. This ensures that tiny diatomite particles stick to the grass.
Part 2 of 2: Improving Grass Health
Step 1. Water the lawn abundantly, but infrequently
A hot, dry lawn is an ideal place for plant lice, while the stress of drought makes it difficult for the grass to fight off. The ideal frequency of watering will depend on the climate in your area and the grass species, but start at a depth of 2.5 cm per week divided into 2-3 watering sessions. A healthy lawn that gets enough moisture should return to its original shape once you step on it.
- Too much water can backfire and make the problem worse, especially with an outbreak of hairy plant lice. If you think the lawn is too wet, delay watering until the tips of the grass begin to curl.
- Naturally moist conditions also encourage the growth of a fungus called Beauveria, a parasite that can kill plant lice.
Step 2. Create the shade
Plant lice do not like shady areas. Install tarpaulins or plant trees to reduce the amount of direct sunlight the grass receives each day. If the lawn is planted with sun-loving varieties, consider shading the areas that are most vulnerable, namely the grass that is adjacent to the yellowish patch.
St. Grass Augustine, which is a favorite food of plant lice, has a high tolerance for shade. This grass can still thrive in the shade below 30%
Step 3. Keep the grass high
In general, grass reaches its healthiest state if allowed to grow to 7.5-10 cm. This fact is especially true in the case of aphids because tall grass will make the soil dark and damp, two things that these pests hate. If the lawn is in very bad condition, you can postpone the mowing job until things get better.
To reduce stress on the grass, use a sharp knife on the lawn mower and don't trim more than a third of the length of the grass each time
Step 4. Get rid of thatch
Thatch is a layer of spongy, brown organic matter that forms between blades of grass and soil. Plant lice live in the thatch and hibernate during cold weather. Aerate the lawn 1-2 times a year to control the thatch so that it does not exceed 1.25 cm in thickness. If the thatch is more than 2.5 cm thick, trim it with a vertical mower or special rake for this purpose.
This is important, especially in cold weather, to reduce the area where the fleas live to retain cold air
Step 5. Don't over-fertilize
Plant lice and other insects that suck plant sap thrive on plants with high nitrogen levels. Switch to a slow-release organic fertilizer or a fertilizer containing only about 5-10% nitrogen.
You can also add less fertilizer than the recommended amount on the package without causing problems. Try this method and increase the dose if the grass turns pale green
Step 6. Clean the fallen leaves
In cold weather, ticks hibernate under dead leaves or other material. Some ticks may survive under thatch even in a clean yard, but you can disturb their comfort by brushing the leaves.
Step 7. Control weeds
If the plant aphid is grayish-brown or blackish-brown and small (about 4 mm in length), it may be a "fake plant aphid". These insects will invade the grass during hot weather, after the weeds that it likes have died. To prevent fleas from breeding, remove weeds growing in the yard and surrounding area, especially London rocket, mustard, Russian thistle, and sagebrush.
False aphids are more common in the arid regions of western Mississippi, but can also be found throughout the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and the West Indies
Step 8. Adjust soil pH
The ideal soil pH for lawns is between 6.5 and 7. Test the soil with a pH test kit (available at gardening stores) and adjust the pH by adding lime (to increase the pH) or sulfur (to lower the pH). If you keep your soil pH within that range, your grass will grow healthy and be able to absorb nutrients, which will help it defend against pests.
For more accurate results, send a soil sample to a soil testing laboratory to determine the exact amount of nutrients lost from the soil
Tips
- The damage caused by drought is very similar to that caused by plant lice, but tends to be more evenly distributed. If the yellow patches appear to be spreading evenly instead of appearing here and there, the problem may be due to fleas.
- If the worst happens and you have to replant grass, consider "endophytic" grass. It is a blue grass or rye enriched with beneficial fungi that can repel plant lice. Be aware that endophytic grass is toxic to livestock. You can also get St. grass. Augustines are resistant to insects (floratam grass and floralawn), but some species of plant aphids have adapted and can eat them.
- In the southern or southwestern United States, the most common species found is the southern plant aphid. This species can damage St. grass. Augustine, but rarely causes serious damage to other types of grass.
- Geocoris is related to plant aphids and is often misidentified. These insects are harmless and have a wider and larger body with a longer eye distance than plant lice. In addition, geocoris only appear in small numbers.
