Mole Crickets

Active Seasons

Appearance and Size Facts

Thick-bodied insects with large beady eyes and shovel-like forelimbs
Highly developed for burrowing and swimming
Brown, tan, or reddish-brown in color
Adult Mole cricket may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and is active most of the year
Size: Approximately 1 to 2 inches in length

Behavior and Habitat

Mole crickets are serious pests of lawns, and they are prevalent throughout South Florida. They are recognized by their large, shovel-like front legs that resemble those of moles. Adult Mole crickets can fly and are attracted to exterior lights. Mole crickets are relatively common, but because they are nocturnal and spend nearly all their lives underground in extensive tunnel systems they are rarely seen. They inhabit agricultural fields, rice paddies, lawns, and golf courses. Five out of the seven species present in North America are immigrants from Europe, Asia, and South America, and are commonly considered pests.

Signs of Infestation

Mole crickets can damage plants by feeding at night on aboveground foliage or stem tissue and belowground on roots and tubers. Seedlings may be girdled at the stems near the soil surface, though some plants may be completely severed and pulled into a tunnel to be eaten. Mole cricket tunneling near the soil surface dislodges plants or causes them to dry out. Tunneling reduces the aesthetic quality of turfgrass, interferes with the roll of the ball on golf courses, and results in reduced livestock grazing on severely infested pastures.

Tips for Prevention

Ensure that irrigation is sufficient to allow for proper turf root zone uptake, but still allowing the soil to dry out completely after watering will help to mitigate Mole cricket activity.

Mole Cricket Gallery

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