What Are the Thousands of Tiny Brown Bugs in My New Sod?

Chinch Bugs

• Chinch bug nymphs and adults cause damage to new sod by sucking juices from lawn grass. Nymphs are tiny brown insects which darken to black as they mature. Chinch bugs grow to reach lengths of 1/3 inch. These pests often congregate in one area of new sod or established lawn grass and are typically large in number.

Chinch Bug Effects

• Chinch bugs damage new sod and established grass during feeding. Heavy infestations of this pest causes dead patches of grass and brown grass. Weeds are more likely to invade sod infested with chinch bugs. Chinch bugs can become resistant to insecticides, making them difficult to manage.

Crickets

• Crickets are common lawn grass pests. New sod infested with crickets often has many tiny brown crickets, known as nymphs. Until maturity, nymphs don't have wings. Adult crickets often reach lengths of 1 to 1 1/4 inches and are nocturnal feeders. Mole crickets lay their eggs in the soil and are most noticeable during the late summer and early fall.

Cricket Effects

• New sod infested with crickets often sustains damage from tunneling. As crickets tunnel through soil, the grass is uprooted and dies. Some types of crickets feed as well as tunnel, leading to large areas of dead grass on new sod and established lawns. Crickets must be controlled throughout the year. Treating crickets during the summer months of June, July, and August targets the nymphs which are heavy feeders.