Mole Cricket
Scapteriscus borellia
Color: Brown, tan, reddish brown.
Size: Up to 1-½ inches.
Mole crickets spend the winter in deep burrows in the soil. When the soil warms in the spring and night temperatures approach 60 degrees F, mole crickets move up to feed on grass.
Mole crickets have robust front legs highly modified for digging. They tunnel rapidly just below the soil surface and make trails of pushed-up soil similar to that of a mole only much smaller. Mole crickets can run very rapidly when on the soil surface.
Mole crickets spend the winter in deep burrows in the soil. When the soil warms in the spring and night temperatures approach 60 degrees F, mole crickets move up to feed on grass. Feeding occurs primarily at night in the upper 1 inch of the soil. Mole crickets also forage on the soil surface when night temperatures are warm and the soil is moist. Activity increases in the spring, and adults fly and mate.
Feeds primarily on other insects and earthworms as nymphs and adults; their prey-searching activities involving digging shallow tunnels in soil, resembling mole runs, which disrupt root systems of turf grass and crops.
Mole crickets can damage plants by feeding at night on aboveground foliage or stem tissue and belowground on roots and tubers. Seedlings may be girdled at the stems near the soil surface, though some plants may be completely severed and pulled into a tunnel to be eaten. Mole cricket tunneling near the soil surface dislodges plants or causes them to dry out. Small mounds of soil are also pushed up. Tunneling reduces the aesthetic quality of turf grass, interferes with the roll of the ball on golf courses, and results in reduced livestock grazing on severely infested pastures.
Hybrid Bermuda grasses, common Bermuda grass, Bahia grass, zoysia grasses, and centipede grass are most severely damaged.
- In the weeks that follow treatment, monitor control in the most problematic areas with the soapy water flush. Remember that it may take many treatments a week or two to become fully effective. The larger the mole cricket, the longer time required to observe good control.
- Where mole crickets are being attracted in large numbers to exterior lights on a home or building, the lights should remain off when not needed or switch the bulbs to a type less attractive to insects (e.g., yellow bug lights or sodium vapor lamps).
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When soil moisture is low, the crickets have a tendency to remain deeper in the soil. Dry soil conditions make mole cricket control more difficult as the cricket's depth decreases the likelihood the insecticide will make contact.Additionally, the dry soil and organic matter may lead to an increase in binding of the insecticide, which results in less availability of the product.
- Pre-irrigation of the affected area, as well as post-treatment irrigation, may be beneficial in enhancing mole cricket control. The pre-irrigation helps thoroughly wet the soil and organic matter, which may improve insecticide movement. It may also help move the mole cricket closer to the surface. But don't put too much water out after treatment (more than ½ inch). This may lead to runoff, and our research shows this may actually reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS AND TREATMENT FOR Mole Cricket CONTROL
Pests need food, water, and shelter. Often the problem may be solved just by removing these key items. Before even thinking about chemical pest control, it is important to be aware of Pest’s Conducive conditions & It’s Recommendations.
Pesticides can be purchased in many different forms, each form has specific uses and application methods The pesticide application method you choose depends on the nature and habits of the target pest, the properties of the pesticide, the suitability of the application equipment, and the cost and efficiency of alternative methods. Your choice is often predetermined by one or more of these factors. Follow label directions for volume recommendations and application rates based on the pest to be controlled and utilize appropriate application tips on equipment. , these application methods are for informational purposes only. To know specific applications method/s for the product you buy, please refer actual packages for complete Label Verbiage.
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