What To Look Out For

These invasive crickets are not native to Florida and were likely introduced from Asia or Africa. They feed on lawns, gardens, and vegetable seedlings, and can be extremely detrimental to the Florida ecosystem.   Three non-native species of mole crickets are found throughout Florida: the southern mole cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla), the common mole cricket (Gryllotalpa spp.), and the desert mole cricket (Scapteriscus abbreviatus).  Mole crickets are most often thought of as the destroyer of grasses, such as bahiagrass, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, seashore paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. They feed on turfgrasses during periods of drought when they are stressed by heat or low rainfall amounts. 

Options for managing mole crickets in turfgrass include cultural, biological and chemical control methods.

Cultural Controls For Mole Crickets

Selecting tolerant plant cultivars, altering soil moisture, reducing attractive lighting, and changing various growing practices can help deter mole crickets. However, you probably like your grass, garden, and vegetables, so changing what you grow might not be an option. Cultural controls, such as lighting, may be implemented individually or used in conjunction with other methods. Again, lighting up your lawn at night, might not be the most practical solution.

Chemical Controls For Mole Crickets

 Chemical Control Mole cricket IPM includes the use of insecticides when necessary. Apply an insecticide only when the plant damage threshold is met or exceeded. Rules & regulations for using hazardous chemicals vary by municipality. It is always best to contact a professional when controlling an infestation. Insect IQ is available for a free consultation if you have an infestation. Small mole cricket nymphs feeding and growing during the summer months are more susceptible to insecticides than large nymphs present in late summer and fall. However, our trained pest control team can eliminate an infestation any time of the year.

Biological Controls For Mole Crickets 

Naturally occurring predators of mole crickets include raccoons, opossums, armadillos, birds, spiders, tiger beetles, and many other insectivorous animals. Unfortunately, foraging by some of these predators, especially armadillos, can cause considerable damage to turfgrass.  Oftentimes, the biological controlling pest is worse for your home than the mole crickets.