Mole crickets are subterranean insects known for their tunneling habits. While they spend much of their lives underground, many mole cricket species have wings and can fly. This aerial ability is not constant across all species or life stages, but it plays a significant role in their life cycle and dispersal.
The Flying Habits of Mole Crickets
Many adult mole cricket species fly, including the tawny and southern mole crickets. These flights typically occur at night, beginning shortly after sunset. Mole crickets are attracted to bright lights.
Flight activity is most prominent during spring, with a smaller flight period sometimes occurring in the fall. Spring flights often occur from March to May in warmer regions. These aerial excursions are triggered by warm temperatures (above 18 to 20 degrees Celsius) and often follow rainfall.
The primary reasons mole crickets take to the air are for dispersal, finding mates, and establishing new territories. Males often engage in calling songs from their burrows to attract females, who fly towards these calls. Although mole crickets are not agile fliers, they can cover considerable distances, sometimes traveling miles.
Identifying Mole Crickets and Their Damage
Mole crickets have a distinct appearance. They are relatively large insects with a cylindrical, brownish body. A prominent feature is their shovel-like forelegs, robust and equipped with blade-like projections adapted for digging through soil. Their bodies are covered in short, dense hairs.
The presence of mole crickets is often first detected by the damage they inflict on turfgrass and other plants. They create irregular, raised burrows or ridges just beneath the soil surface, similar to miniature mole tunnels. This tunneling can cause grass to detach from the soil, leading to spongy areas and patches of brown, dying grass. Small mounds of disturbed dirt may also be visible on the surface.
Damage is frequently most apparent in late summer and fall as populations grow and feeding activity increases. To confirm a mole cricket infestation, a simple soap-water flush can be performed. Mixing a few tablespoons of liquid dish soap in a gallon of water and pouring it over a suspected area will typically cause mole crickets to surface within minutes if they are present.
Managing Mole Cricket Populations
Effective management of mole cricket populations often involves a combination of strategies. Cultural practices can help make a lawn less attractive to these pests. This includes:
Maintaining proper watering schedules
Mowing at the correct height
Ensuring adequate fertilization
Addressing thatch buildup, as excessive thatch can provide a suitable habitat
Biological controls offer options for reducing mole cricket numbers. Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that infect and kill mole crickets in the soil. The Larra bicolor wasp is another natural enemy that parasitizes mole crickets. Certain fungal pathogens are also being investigated for biological control.
Chemical treatments can also control mole crickets. These products are available in granular or liquid forms. The most effective time for insecticide application is typically in June and July when mole cricket nymphs are small and more vulnerable. Insecticide baits can also be effective, particularly in spring and fall when adult mole crickets are active. Always follow product label directions carefully and consider consulting with a pest management professional for tailored advice.