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Giving a Mole Cricket to “The Mole Cricket” – Our View of an Insect Control Success Storyby Harrell's

Blog, Turf February 18, 2010 10:53 am

by Dr. John Cisar and William Kern, Jr., University of Florida, FLREC

When turf agronomist John Cisar came to Florida nearly 18 years ago, “the mole cricket” (actually a number of different immigrant mole cricket species in the Scapteriscus genera) was arguably the #1 insect pest of turfgrasses in the region.   Having been trained in the more northern climate of Rhode Island, he had a naïve appreciation for the pest. Now, Dr. Cisar considers mole crickets to be the insect world’s version of a Star War’s-like “Attack of the Clones” with waves of mole crickets marching endlessly across sports turf fields!

Well, what a difference a generation has made! In the not so “good old days”, turfgrass managers had no choice but to make multiple insecticide applications, trying to time applications by the phases of the moon and hope for a better tomorrow. Tomorrow has arrived. Because of the hard work of University entomologists, the chemical products industry and turf industry cooperators, turfgrass managers have an increased knowledge of mole crickets biology and many options that take into account IPM strategies, new chemistries, coated formulations of existing products, and biocontrol agents.

What do we know about mole crickets? Briefly, although there are 10 species of mole crickets found in the continental USA and Carribean region, most are not turf pests. In Florida, we are mainly concerned with three immigrant species of Scapteriscus spp. of mole crickets as turf pests, the short winged, southern, and tawny mole crickets. These mole crickets are coined “immigrants” because it is widely reported that they came to the southeastern USA over 100 years ago on ships from their native South America. Of the three, the southern and tawny are considered to be the most damaging to turf in Florida. The short winged mole cricket has had less of an impact likely due to its inabilty to fly and is mainly found in coastal areas. Without natural enemies in America, tawny and southern mole crickets have thrived and spread. Southern and tawny mole crickets are found in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and across gulf coast states.

The tawny mole cricket has one generation annually, with eggs laid in underground chambers in the spring. Hatching nymphs soon feed on plant roots throughout summer months and will molt several times before reaching the adult stage by September. Overwintering adults will breed again next spring. Tawny adult flights occur from February through April in Florida and in Georgia flights occur from March through May. They also have flights in October-November.

In Georgia and Central-North Florida, the southern mole cricket has a life cycle similar to the tawny mole cricket except that the activity begins and ends a few weeks later in the year. In southern Florida, the southern mole cricket appears to have 2 generations each year. There are two flight seasons (March-May) and (June-August) with each season accompanied by oviposition. Southern mole crickets feed less on plant parts and are more active on the soil surface than the tawny mole cricket. However, tunnelling from the southern mole cricket can cause damage to turf.

As we approach another year of mole cricket invasions, fortunately, there are a number of control options. If you suspect that mole crickets are causing damage, it is suggested that you use a soap flush (1.5 oz. dishsoap:2 gal water) applied over a 4 sq. ft. area to get an estimate of the types and numbers of mole crickets on your site. If 2-4 mole crickets come to the surface within 3 minutes of application then corrective application is justified to reduce their population.   Of the biological control agents, perhaps the best known approach is the use of the parasitic nematode (Steinernema scapterisci) which attacks only foreign mole crickets which are damaging to turf in the Southeast. The nematode lives in the soil and enters into bodies through openings. Once inside, the nematode releases bacteria that multiply and ultimately kills the mole cricket within 48 hours. The nematodes feed on the bacteria and then mate and reproduce. The juvenile nematodes exit the dead host and search for a new host after the first one goes kaput. Spread of the nematode is enhanced by the flight of its host. The application of the nematodes is accomplished with spray or soil injection units.

A variety of chemistries and control strategies are available for turf managers. Insecticide baits can be effective. Time bait applications for early evening because mole crickets feed at night. Baits are broken down by irrigation and rain. Fipronil (Chipco Choice, TopChoice) at first was only available as a custom-applied program. Now, certain forms of fipronil can be applied independently by golf courses. Acephate (orthene), an organo-phosphate material that has been used for mole cricket control for a number of years can now be applied as a coated material that has a longer residual than the uncoated form.   Additional labelled mole cricket products for professional use include Imidacloprid (Merit), Bifenthrin (Talstar), Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin (Tempo), Detlamethrin (DeltaGard), and Lamda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar).

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information only. Some products need to watered-in. Read and follow label instructions carefully. All chemicals should be used in accordance with the directions of the manufacturer’s label. Use pesticides safely.   Moreover, some products are restricted-use only pesticides. For further information about which products are legal to use in your area, or for more detailed information about mole crickets, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service office. Additional information is available on the internet. A good site to begin with is a University of Florida site: http://molecrickets.ifas.ufl.edu.

Selected References:

Brammer, A. Long –term mole cricket control on horizon. University of Florida, http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu.

Buss, E. A., J. L. Capinera, and N. C. Leppla. Pest Mole Cricket Management. University of Florida EDIS publication. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Capinera, J. L. and N. C. Leppla. Mole Crickets, Scapteriscus spp. University of Florida EDIS publication. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu