Mole crickets are large, brown, rather scary-looking tunneling insects that invade lawns and golf courses, devouring roots and shoots and uprooting turfgrass. Named for their burrowing behavior and powerful front legs with five-toed feet that resemble a mole’s digging paws, mole crickets are among the most destructive pests for warm-season grasses. Mole cricket damage in the South East amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
A mole cricket infestation grows quickly, with females laying multiple clutches of 20-60 eggs in April through June. The nymphs are far more susceptible to predators and chemical control than the adult insects, making early identification critical. Recognizing and treating mole crickets early prevents lawn damage and gives you a better chance against these notoriously challenging pests.
Identifying Mole Cricket Damage in Your Lawn
A mature mole cricket grows up to one and a half to two inches long and can do significant damage to your lawn. Every night, a single adult burrows up to 20 feet, destroying turfgrass roots as it goes. Mole cricket damage in the lawn typically takes three recognizable forms:
- Small mounds of loose soil. Mole crickets frequently push small piles of soil ahead of them when they surface to feed on insects or avoid natural predators. These mounds are just a few inches in diameter.
- Irregular brown patches. Mole cricket burrowing and feeding kills grass roots, leaving irregular brown patches throughout the lawn.
- Spongy feel underfoot. When walking on the grass, you may feel mole cricket tunnels collapse, giving a spongy feel to the lawn.
While mole cricket damage is certainly noticeable, it’s pretty ambiguous, as many pests and problems cause similar damage. To confirm that you have mole crickets, follow these steps:
- Mix a solution of two tbsp liquid dish soap with two gallons of water.
- Pour the mix over a two-square-foot area of damaged soil.
- Mole cricket adults and nymphs will come to the soil’s surface after a few minutes.
How To Get Rid of Mole Crickets
Mole crickets are challenging to control. Their nocturnal behavior and deep burrows make them difficult to reach. There are two effective methods to consider:
- Chemical Control
- Insecticides: Use insecticides that target the mole cricket nymph stage, as they are more vulnerable than adults. Products containing active ingredients such as bifenthrin, carbaryl, or imidacloprid are effective. Apply insecticides in late spring or early summer when nymphs are smaller and easier to control. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Timing: Apply insecticide late in the day, just before the critters become active.
- Biological Control
- Beneficial Nematodes: You can buy microscopic worms called beneficial nematodes to apply to your soil. They seek out and kill mole crickets by entering their bodies and releasing bacteria deadly to the crickets. Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes are particularly effective against mole crickets. Apply the nematodes in the late afternoon and water them well into moist soil.
- Note: Chemical insecticides will kill beneficial nematodes and other predators, such as ants and ground beetles that feed on mole cricket eggs and nymphs.
As is often the case, preventing mole crickets is far easier than getting rid of them.
Mole Cricket Prevention Tips
A vigorous, healthy lawn is the first line of defense against mole crickets. The females prefer to lay their eggs in sparse lawns, where it is easier for their hatchlings to tunnel up to the surface. The following tips will help to prevent mole cricket damage in your lawn:
- Plant mole cricket-resistant turfgrass: Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, and, to a lesser degree, St. Augustine grass is highly attractive to mole crickets. The critters rarely damage Zoysia and centipede grass.
- Aerate the soil: Soil aeration promotes thick, dense lawns that are less attractive to female mole crickets.
- Water wisely: Water your lawn deeply but infrequently to encourage deep, healthy roots that can help the lawn recover more quickly from mole cricket damage.
- Dethatch the lawn: Mole crickets are attracted to lawns with thick thatch, which supports young and helps overwintering adults. Dethatching also promotes a thicker, healthier lawn.
- Regular inspections: Remain alert to potential damage occurring to your lawn. Early detection and action are critical.
- Change outdoor lighting: Flying mole crickets are attracted to intense lights at night. Turn off your lights or switch to yellow bulbs.
Why Trust Lawn Pride for Mole Cricket Control
At Lawn Pride®, we’re happy to help homeowners learn to care for their lawns. Our grass experts explain everything from designing a pet-friendly lawn to how to get rid of mole crickets. If you have questions, please contact us, but when you just want to hand over the lawn care chores to us, we do that, too! We’re confident you’ll be happy with our work because it is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™.
Are you ready to enjoy a lush, healthy, mole cricket-free lawn without the effort? Request a free estimate and let Lawn Pride take care of the rest.
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.