Southern Mole Cricket
Scapteriscus acletus Rehn & Hebard, Gryllotalpidae, ORTHOPTERA

DESCRIPTION

Adult - The Beady-eyed adults are about 32 mm long, brown, and covered with fine, short hairs. They have short front wings, long and membranous hind wings which fold under the forewings and short, broad, shovel-like front legs for digging.

Egg - Eggs are oval and about 3.3 mm long.

Nymph - Nymphs are similar in appearance to adults but are smaller and wingless.

BIOLOGY

Distribution - The mole cricket occurs from North Carolina to Texas. In North Carolina it is more prevalent in the Coastal Plain.

Host Plants - The nymphs and adults tunnel in the soil and feed on decomposing organic matter and roots. By tunneling, mole crickets injure tobacco seedlings, garden vegetables, peanuts, strawberries, and grasses.

Damage - The southern mole cricket is one of several species of mole crickets which injure plant bed tobacco. Tobacco seedlings are uprooted by the tunneling activity of these insects. Mole crickets may also cause damage by drying out the soil and feeding on roots.

Life History - The southern mole cricket overwinters as a nymph or adult, migrating downward in cold weather. In the spring eggs are laid in the soil in cells constructed by the females. About 35 eggs are placed in each cell. Hatch occurs in 10 to 40 days depending on temperature. Nymphs develop through six or seven molts and either become adults by winter or overwinter as immatures. One generation occurs per year.

CONTROL

Mole crickets may be controlled in tobacco plant beds by using an insecticide bait or drench. Baits should be scattered by gloved hand at dusk in the infested areas. For specific chemical recommendations, consult the current North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual.