What Do Mole Crickets look like?
Mole crickets, members of the cricket family, spend nearly their entire lives underground. Their front half resembles a mole, equipped with sturdy, shovel-like claws designed for efficient burrowing. Unlike typical crickets that use their powerful hind legs for jumping, mole crickets have shorter back legs specialized for pushing dirt aside as they dig.
They are between 3cm to 4cm long with a rigid head and forelimbs while having a soft abdomen. On their face, they have two fine antennae and a pair of black beady eyes. These crickets will have two sets of wings: a pair of forewings and a pair of hind wings.
Where Do Mole Crickets Live?
Mole Crickets are most commonly found in coastal, urban and grassy woodlands where there is more rainfall. They are most active throughout the warmer months of the year.
How Do Mole Crickets Communicate With Each Other?
Mole crickets are primarily nocturnal, becoming most active after rainfall or recent lawn irrigation. Males position themselves at the entrance of their burrows, facing inward, and produce calls to attract females. Damp burrows are more appealing to females than dry sites, as they provide a more favourable environment for laying eggs.
Fact: Did you know that the male Mole Crickets are one of the loudest insects, with Cicadas being the loudest?
What Type of Mole Crickets Are in Australia?
Australia has its own native species of Mole Cricket called Gryllotalpa pluvialis. Other species found in Australia are the African Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa africana) and the Changa Mole Cricket (Scapteriscus didactylus), which was accidentally introduced to the Newcastle area.
Why Are Mole Crickets Considered to be a Pest?
These insects feed primarily on grass roots to obtain nutrients, making them a significant pest, particularly on golf courses and lawns. Their feeding and burrowing habits can gradually cause patches of grass to wither and die over time.
How Can I Test for Mole Crickets in my Lawn?
If you are unsure if this pest is in your lawn, we recommend doing a soapy water test. To do a soapy water test, mix up a big bucket of water and add some dishwashing liquid. Then, pour the soapy water over the damaged area as well as the surrounding healthy turf. Then, keep an eye on the area for five or so minutes and see if any insects rise to the surface. This test is best done at dusk when they are most likely to be active.
How Do I Treat for Mole Crickets?
To treat a Mole Cricket infestation, we recommend using a fast-acting insecticide like Battle Insecticide.
Apply Battle Insecticide as per the application instructions, at dusk is best, then irrigate the lawn for around 15 minutes. This will help the insecticide reach down deeper into the soil, as the mole crickets can burrow quite deeply. Repeat applications may be necessary.
If mole crickets aren’t the ones causing trouble in your lawn, it could be lawn grubs or other pesky pests instead. Look into what signs to watch for and how to treat them before they do too much damage.
For other tips on lawn care, check out our how-to's, news & updates, and product info pages. Give us a call, email, or visit us in-store for any specialised enquiries on how to provide the best results for your turf.
This article was provided by Lawn Solutions Australia.