Mole crickets are a significant problem from the Carolinas to Florida.
Find out how to manage populations and keep your lawn and gardens cricket-free.
What Are Mole Crickets?
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Soak suspect bare patches with soapy water or a water and vinegar mix.
Do this during the warm season when adult crickets move toward the soil surface to mate.
They’ll quickly come up for air.
Several methods have possibilities for control and depend on the severity of the problem.
Encourage these predators by providing habitat, including shelter and a water source.
Natural scent repellentsmay drive mole crickets to depart for a friendlier location.
Eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, peppermint, and vinegar act as effective deterrents.
Biocontrols
Natural predators keep populations of native Northern mole crickets in check.
Steinernema scapterisci,a parasitic nematodeimported from South America, is another effective biocontrol.
Released into the soil, these microscopic roundworms hunt and infiltrate the bodies of mole crickets to lay eggs.
They can be purchased online and at specialty garden centers.
What is biocontrol?
Biocontrol is a method of managing insect pests by introducing a beneficial organism that parasitizes or destroys the pest.
Effective pesticides include neonicotinoids, organophosphates, and synthetic pyrethroids.
Apply in early summer when larvae are newly hatched and feeding close to the surface.
While damage is most visible in late summer, waiting to treat your lawn won’t be as effective.
Water your lawn the day before and again following app unless you use bait balls.
Withhold water for three to four days after setting out cricket baits.
Spot treat affected areas to limit use and apply pesticides late in the day.
If repeat treatment is necessary, consider using a different formula.
Mole crickets can build tolerance with repeated applications of the same product.
They are licensed to use strong formulas not available to homeowners.
Damage due to mounding can be hazardous on playing fields and lawns with intense activity or small children.
How many mole crickets are too many?
Soak suspected areas in late summer with two tablespoons of liquid soap dissolved in a gallon of water.
Or use a combination of vinegar and water.
If two to four crickets surface in a 2-foot square area, take steps to reduce the population.
Adult mole crickets are most active in late summer when adults come to the surface to mate.
Female mole crickets tunnel 4 to 12 inches deep to lay eggs.
During winter months, males and females can burrow several feet deep into the soil.
Mole Cricket Management in Turfgrass.
Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center
Mole Crickets.IFAS Extension, University of Florida
