Mole Cricket Season Starts Soon
02/07/2008
In the southeastern United States mole crickets can be a serious problem. An annual problem on warm season turfgrass, mole crickets occur in the same turf area or location year after year. Mole crickets cause damage by tunneling and digging through the soil and thatch causing root damage and plant upheaval. Mole crickets are soil inhabitants, which along with their mobility make control measures difficult.
Depending on the location, mole cricket adults will take flight during February and March laying eggs, which will hatch producing small nymphs. Nymphs are active during April through early June. During this time the nymphs are small and difficult to detect do to their size and the actively growing turf.
Control measures should be targeted at mole crickets when they are small. Nymphs that are small are much easier to control than larger nymphs. Research has found control measures should optimally be targeted to mole crickets when they are less than ½ inch in length.