Moles are subterranean mammals recognized for their extensive tunneling systems, while mole crickets are burrowing insects often considered agricultural and lawn pests. A common question is whether moles consume mole crickets. This article aims to clarify the relationship, specifically addressing the dietary habits of moles concerning mole crickets and distinguishing the damage each causes to yards.
Understanding Moles
Moles are insectivorous mammals, primarily eating insects and other invertebrates found within the soil. Their main food sources include earthworms, grubs, and various beetle larvae. Earthworms are a staple of a mole’s diet, often comprising a significant portion of their daily food intake, with a single mole capable of consuming hundreds of worms per day. They require a substantial amount of food daily, often eating 70% to 100% of their body weight, to sustain their high metabolism and constant tunneling activity.
Their subterranean lifestyle is supported by unique physical adaptations. Moles possess powerful, spade-like forelimbs with large, outward-turned claws, perfectly suited for excavating intricate tunnel networks. While their eyesight is poor, moles rely on a highly developed sense of touch, acute hearing, and sensitive snouts to detect vibrations and locate prey in complete darkness. These tunnels serve as their hunting grounds, allowing them to efficiently forage for their preferred soft-bodied prey.
Understanding Mole Crickets
Mole crickets are burrowing insects, typically 3 to 5 centimeters long as adults, characterized by their cylindrical bodies and shovel-like forelegs highly adapted for digging. They belong to the Orthoptera order, which also includes grasshoppers and other crickets. These insects primarily inhabit turfgrass and moist soil, spending most of their lives underground in extensive tunnel systems.
Mole crickets cause damage by tunneling just beneath the soil surface, which disrupts plant roots and loosens the soil. Some species also feed directly on turfgrass roots and shoots, leading to brown patches and thinning or dying grass. Their activities can result in significant damage to lawns, golf courses, and agricultural fields, particularly in regions like the southeastern United States where they are considered pests.
The Dietary Truth
While moles are insectivores, mole crickets are not a significant or primary food source for them. Moles overwhelmingly prefer soft-bodied invertebrates like earthworms and grubs due to their high nutritional value and ease of digestion. Earthworms, for instance, can constitute up to 80% of a mole’s diet.
Mole crickets, with their tougher exoskeletons and distinct burrowing patterns, are less desirable or accessible prey compared to a mole’s preferred diet. Although a mole might incidentally consume a mole cricket if encountered during tunneling, these occurrences are infrequent and do not represent a consistent food source. Therefore, moles are not an effective natural control method for mole cricket infestations. Managing mole crickets typically requires targeted pest control strategies rather than relying on moles to reduce their populations.
Identifying Yard Damage
Differentiating between mole damage and mole cricket damage is important for effective yard management, as their signs can sometimes be confused. Mole activity is typically indicated by the presence of characteristic molehills, which are conical mounds of loose soil pushed to the surface. Moles also create raised, distinct surface tunnels that appear as visible ridges across the lawn, formed as they hunt for food. These tunnels often feel soft or spongy underfoot.
In contrast, mole cricket damage often presents as shallow, meandering tunnels just beneath the soil surface, which can look like disturbed soil or cause the grass to lift. This tunneling, combined with their root-feeding habits, leads to patches of browning, thinning, or dying grass. Correctly identifying the specific type of damage is crucial for applying appropriate and effective control measures.