The mole cricket is a lawn pest whose presence is often betrayed by the damage it leaves beneath the soil. These subterranean insects cause turfgrass damage across the southeastern United States and other regions. Adult mole crickets are capable of flight, but they only take to the air under specific, predictable circumstances. Understanding when and why these adults fly is the most effective way to prevent new infestations.
Identifying the Mole Cricket
The mole cricket is easily distinguished from other crickets by its unique, specialized anatomy. These insects have cylindrical bodies, growing to an average length of about 1.25 to 1.38 inches. Their most defining feature is their massive, shovel-like forelegs, which are perfectly adapted for digging through soil.
They spend most of their life burrowed underground, creating tunnels just beneath the surface. This tunneling activity is a primary source of damage, as it severs plant roots and uproots turfgrass, causing the lawn to feel spongy or look brown. Nymphs and adults cause damage through tunneling, especially in sandy or warm-season turfgrass.
The Truth About Flight Capability
Adult mole crickets possess two pairs of wings that fold flat over their abdomen, and most species are capable of flight. Flight is not used for daily movement, but serves the purposes of dispersal and mating. Not all species are strong fliers; the short-winged mole cricket is incapable of flight due to its reduced wing size.
The two most damaging species, the Tawny (Neoscapteriscus vicinus) and Southern (Neoscapteriscus borellii) mole crickets, are strong fliers. Their flights are highly seasonal and occur only at night, shortly after sunset. These brief flights are concentrated in the spring and early summer, though a smaller flight may occur in the fall.
The spring flight signals the start of the breeding season when adults seek out new areas to lay eggs. These dispersal flights are triggered by temperature and moisture conditions, and activity is limited by cold weather. Tawny mole crickets may begin flights as early as February in Florida, while Southern mole crickets peak in May in many regions.
Males initiate mating by building underground chambers and emitting a calling song to attract females. Females fly toward this sound, often covering distances of up to a mile to find a mate and a suitable egg-laying site. They are also strongly attracted to bright lights, which is why they are often seen near streetlights and porch lights during dispersal periods. These brief nocturnal flights are the main way new areas become infested.
Managing the Threat of Flying Adults
Since flying adults spread infestations and lay eggs, management strategies target this reproductive cycle. The goal is to eliminate adults before they deposit eggs, or to treat the newly hatched, more vulnerable nymphs. The timing of control applications depends on local temperatures and the specific species present.
Adults can be targeted with insecticide baits during their spring and fall flight periods, typically between February and April, to reduce the population before egg-laying begins. Baits are most effective when applied in the early evening, as mole crickets are nocturnal feeders and surface to consume them. The most effective time for control applications is usually late spring or early summer, when the eggs have hatched.
Monitoring for mole crickets is done using a soap flush solution. Applying a mixture of liquid dish soap and water to a two-square-foot area of turf will irritate the pests and force them to surface within minutes. If two to four mole crickets emerge, it indicates a population high enough to warrant treatment. Targeting the young nymphs, which are less than a half-inch long, is preferred because they are closer to the surface and more susceptible to insecticides.