If you or your neighbors have lots of tall weeds in your yard or if you live next to a vacant lot – watch out! When the temperatures rise and the weeds dry out we can be invaded by the False Chinch Bug.
Many times I have answered calls with a very panicked individual freaking out because they are being “invaded by millions of ants.” If it is the end of May or first half of June (when the weeds dry out) I immediately suspect the False Chinch Bug.
I have seen the migration of these bugs from a vacant lot over the fence into a yard so thick and immense that you couldn’t see the color of the fence! They are harmless but with overwhelming numbers they are very disturbing to humans.
We have many pesticides that will eliminate this bug, however their migrating numbers being so vast that for every one the pesticide eliminates there are a hundred to replace it. Our relief comes when we have sustained high over 100 degrees. That heat causes them to die.
The best solution is to eliminate weeds when they are green and young. Alerting neighbors with growing weeds helps the neighborhood avoid the horde of False Chinch Bugs. You may have to contact owners of vacant lots so they can control their weeds.