Mole Cricket
Category Lawn Pests
Actual Size: 1 to 1 ½ inches
Characteristics: These insects range from light to dark brown, with a soft, velvety look and sturdy, cylindrical bodies.
Legs: They have 6 legs, with the front pair built for powerful digging.
Antennae: Yes, short and slender.
Wings: Yes, covering about ¾ of their abdomen.
Habitat: Found underground in soft, moist soils, they prefer areas like lawns, gardens, golf courses, and pastures.
Habits:
- Most active at night and after rainfall.
- Male mole crickets produce a loud, trilling sound to attract mates.
- Feed on grass roots, stems, and seedlings, often causing damage to turfgrass.
Mole Crickets in Florida
Mole crickets are commonly found in sandy soil, turfgrass, and vegetable gardens in Florida. They dig small burrows near food sources for daytime shelter, then emerge at night to feed and tunnel. These pests can create up to 20 feet of tunnels overnight, disturbing plants above. Mating occurs in spring and early summer, with eggs hatching roughly two weeks after being laid.
Mole Cricket Habitat
Mole crickets typically live just below the surface of sandy soil. They gather near thick plant growth and moist areas where food is abundant and tunneling is easier. These insects are excellent diggers, capable of quickly creating extensive tunnel networks. They feed on small soil insects and earthworms that thrive in these conditions. Around Florida, mole crickets are commonly found wherever such environments exist.
Mole Cricket Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Since mole crickets are nocturnal and burrow through soil, they’re rarely seen before their damage appears. Their tunneling can stunt plant growth and ruin your garden if populations grow too large. Early signs often include wilting grass and raised tunnels in the soil. Although they don’t pose health risks to people or pets, it’s important to address infestations promptly.
Reach out to a pest control expert if you think mole crickets are present.