INSECT ID · SOIL-DWELLING PEST
Southern mole crickets
Also called Mole crickets
Brown crickets with shovel-like front legs that tunnel under the lawn. Their tunnels cut roots and the grass dries out.
How to spot it
- Dull dark brown cricket, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches long
- Wide, shovel-like front legs made for digging
- Light spots on the shield behind the head
- Tunnels just under the surface, and loose, dried-out turf
- Mostly active at night, and mostly in sandy soil
Why it shows up
They tunnel through the soil and come up at night to feed. Roots get loosened and the grass dries out. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass in sandy soil get hit hardest. Damage is worst in late summer and early fall.
How we treat it
Mole cricket control is covered by our lawn program. The best time to treat is while the young crickets are still small, in early summer. We check for them and treat when we find them.
What you can do
- Pour soapy water (1 tablespoon dish soap per gallon) on a spot. Crickets will come up to the surface.
- Two or more crickets per square foot is a problem.
- Call early in summer when the young ones are small.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138