Small insects causing big problems in southeast Calgary
Southeast Calgary homeowners have a new thing to worry about that isn't porch pirates, wandering coyotes or hail stones. They're called chinch bugs and they are attacking lawns in the southeast communities of Douglasdale, McKenzie Lake and Cranston.
Nutri-Lawn general manager Mike House said the pests have a voracious appetite.
"They actually suck the juice out of the grass blades and kind of like a mosquito they inject a toxin into the grass blade which kills," said House. "And they're in there by large numbers so they start to kill off small to medium size patches very quickly."
House said it's easy to spot the damaged grass once you know what to look for. He said many home owners are unaware of the insects and think their lawns just need more water.
"When you get extended periods of hot dry weather they just have more and more generations in the summer and they're not interrupted by cold weather or periods of high moisture," said House. "So they really thrived this year."
House said if left unchecked, chinch bugs can devastate an entire lawn and the only recourse for the home owner is to replace it.
"The problem with these insects is they do overwinter on the properties," said House. "They'll go underneath shrubs and hedges so they'll be back next year to lay new hatches of eggs so the infestations become exponentially larger and larger each year."
Kimberly Friesen is a supervisor with Nutri-Lawn and treats problem grass for clients. She says the pests can usually be controlled with one application of insecticide on impacted areas. She said staff have been busy this summer visiting multiple properties a day.
"I would say between 25 and 35 and there was one point when we did maybe six houses all in a row, all on the one street because they were just going through the fences," she said.
Home owners in the impacted southeast communities looking to treat their lawns themselves say many garden centres are sold out of product.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.