Mole crickets(Gryllotalpidae)
Description: Mole Crickets are light brown and approximately 1 1/2 " long. Their forelegs are very short have adapted well to digging through the soil. Mole crickets have wings and are attracted to lights.
Developmental Biology: Mole crickets have a peak egg laying period that begins in May and continues through mid-June. A period of 20 days pass before hatching occurs. These eggs are laid in chambers made in the soil of a Bahia lawn. On an average, 3 to 5 chambers are laid with at least 35 eggs per cell. When the nymphs hatch, they immediately begin feeding.
General Behavior: Mole crickets feed primarily at night. They have been known to travel more than 20 inches per night. The damage occurs to the Bahia lawns by the tunneling action. This loosens the soil so that the grass is often uprooted and the grass dies from drying of the root system. Mole crickets are also cannibalistic so many die before reaching adulthood.
Method of Infestation: Mole crickets have a spring flight, then lay their eggs within Bahia grass. The cycle begins there and will repeat itself until some control method is activated. The most serious damage occurs within Bahia grass. Mole crickets will enter at St. Augustine lawn occasionally but due to the coarse root system, it will not show severe damage.
Management: Mole crickets have numerous natural predators. Some examples are fire ants, ground beetles and Labidura earwigs. Larger animals such as armadillos will also feed on mole crickets but will damage the lawn in the process. A professional pest control technician will confirm the presence of these insects in your lawn. A granular bait or a liquid insecticide may be applied to control the mole crickets. All persons or pets should stay off the treated areas until dry.