A Montreal horticulturist said he is seeing more chinch bugs this summer because of the hot, dry weather.

Francois Dubois, with Pépinière Jasmin, said many customers are coming to the St. Laurent borough plant nursery with complaints about the small insects.

"When the weather goes up the life cycle of the bug is shorter, so its means more generation, more eggs and more trouble too," said Dubois.

Two adult male chinch bugs. (OMAFRA)

Chinch bugs feed off the sap in grass, leaving some patches yellowed and dead.

Montrealer Barbara Babarik said the bugs have been a problem on her lawn for years. But this summer, they have gotten worse.

"They're pretty bad this year. I think they're as bad as I've ever experienced them," said Babarik.

Dubois said Municipal bylaws against pesticides mean it's hard to get rid of the insect. He said it's easier to prevent the insects from reaching your lawn in the first place.

He said the best way to keep the bugs at bay is to water plants appropriately and feed them with good fertilizer.