Southern Chinch Bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) Survival on St. Augustinegrass Selections

The survival of female vs male adults of southern chinch bugs (Blissus insularis Barber) was determined on five selections of St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) of which three (Floratam, 1997-6, Floratine) are susceptible to southern chinch bugs and two (FX-10, NUF-76) are resistant. Survival of different chinch bug life stages (small nymphs, large nymphs, adults) on the five selections also was determined. Survival of female adults, male adults, and other life stages was higher on the three susceptible selections than on the two resistant selections. These data show that survivorship of all stages of southern chinch bugs (small nymphs, large nymphs, adults of both sexes) tested responded similarly to the five St. Augustinegrass selections.