Large Numbers of False Chinch Bugs Reported in Fant, Maidstone

Maidstone Borough Council has issued advice to residents in Fant after receiving a number of enquiries about large numbers of false chinch bugs being found in and around properties on Chamberlain Avenue, Pitt Road, Shelley Road and surrounding roads.

False chinch bugs are small insects that normally feed on plants and weeds in fields and grassland. The council says large populations can build up when weather conditions favour them, and when vegetation dries out, is harvested, or food sources run short, the insects move into nearby gardens and homes looking for alternative shelter. While distressing in large numbers, the council is clear they're not a public health risk: they don't bite people or pets, don't spread disease, and don't damage buildings, furniture or belongings.

The council says outbreaks like this are usually temporary and tied to seasonal conditions, and don't normally lead to a permanent infestation. Its advice for residents is to keep doors and windows closed where practical, fit or repair insect screens, seal gaps around doors, windows and pipework, vacuum up insects that get in, and keep gardens tidy and well watered. It says widespread pesticide use is unlikely to help more than simply keeping the bugs out, and that - because this appears to be a naturally occurring population rather than a public health issue - it has no practical means of treating or eradicating the insects across the affected area, or of visiting individual properties, and its role is limited to providing information and reassurance. Source: Maidstone Borough Council