Chinch Bugs Bites and Treatments

Do Chinch Bugs Bite?

No. Chinch bugs feed only on plant sap, and their mouthparts are built for piercing grass stems, not skin. They can ruin a lawn, but they pose no medical threat to people.

Chinch Bugs, People and Pets

Chinch bugs do not bite or sting people, and they do not feed on pets. They carry no human or animal diseases and do not move indoors to live. Walking, sitting or playing on a lawn with chinch bugs carries no health risk.

If something in the yard is biting you, it is something else. Common culprits in Florida lawns include:

• Fire ants, which leave burning stings that often turn into small white pustules
• Chiggers, which cause intensely itchy red bumps around the ankles, waistline and other places where clothing fits tight
• Mosquitoes near damp, shady spots and standing water
• Minute pirate bugs, tiny black and white insects on plants that can give a surprisingly sharp little bite

Kids and pets on a treated lawn: the more realistic concern around chinch bugs is lawn treatment. If a lawn has been treated, follow the product label on how long people and pets should stay off, which is often until the treated area has dried. Store any lawn products out of reach of children and animals.

Basic care for itchy yard bites: wash the area, use a cool compress and try not to scratch. See a doctor if a bite becomes very swollen, warm and painful, or right away for signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, facial swelling or trouble breathing.

To protect the lawn itself, see how to get rid of chinch bugs, or read about ants in Florida yards.