Numbers
16 species in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
Adult: black with opaque wings; wing length varies from as long as body to only one-third length of body, and each wing bears a distinctive, triangular, black mark
Nymph: wingless and smaller than adult but similar shape; head and thorax brown; eyes dark red; abdomen pale yellow or light red with black tip
Range
eastern United States and southeastern Canada
Habitat
fields, lawns, commercial crop plantations
Season
March to October in the southeast
Food
nymphs and adults feed on forage, lawn, and wild grasses plus crop plants, including wheat, corn, sorghum, oats
Life Cycle
overwintera as an adult among weeds and grasses near fields; adults emerge in spring and deposit eggs singly behind leaf sheath or in soil at base of small grain plant; eggs hatch in a few days, and nymphs begin feeding on all parts of host plant; nymphs undergo six developmental stages, including the last (adult) stage; two or three generations per year
Remarks
Chinch bugs pierce the plant with their mouth parts and suck out the plant sap. This feeding prevents normal growth and results in dwarfing, lodging, and yield reduction. Severe infestations during early development may cause plants to wilt and die prematurely.
Although there are 16 species of Blissus in North America, the species most commonly encountered - and referred to as the Chinch Bug - is B. leucopterous.
Internet References
pinned adult image (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
live adult and nymph images plus host plants, description, damage, biology, etc. (Oklahoma State U.)
