Which pest shows yellowing and stippling with visible dark insects on blades?

Which pest shows yellowing and stippling with visible dark insects on blades?

• A. Sting nematodes
• B. Chinch bugs
• C. Root-knot nematodes
• D. White grubs

Answer: (B)

When turf shows yellowing and stippling on the blades with dark insects visibly present on the leaves, the pest most likely responsible is a sap-sucking insect that feeds directly on the foliage. Chinch bugs feed on the sap of grass blades, injecting enzymes that cause chlorosis and the characteristic stippling. They’re often seen clinging to the blades or around the leaf bases, especially in warm, dry conditions, making the combination of yellowing and visible dark insects a telltale sign. The other pests mainly affect roots or soil, not the blade surface. Sting nematodes and root-knot nematodes attack the root zone, leading to overall turf decline from below the surface. White grubs feed on roots underground, causing thinning and wilting without the distinct stippling pattern or insects readily seen on the blades.

When turf shows yellowing and stippling on the blades with dark insects visibly present on the leaves, the pest most likely responsible is a sap-sucking insect that feeds directly on the foliage. Chinch bugs feed on the sap of grass blades, injecting enzymes that cause chlorosis and the characteristic stippling. They’re often seen clinging to the blades or around the leaf bases, especially in warm, dry conditions, making the combination of yellowing and visible dark insects a telltale sign.

The other pests mainly affect roots or soil, not the blade surface. Sting nematodes and root-knot nematodes attack the root zone, leading to overall turf decline from below the surface. White grubs feed on roots underground, causing thinning and wilting without the distinct stippling pattern or insects readily seen on the blades.