Pensacola News Journal

For: Saturday, June 19, 2004

By: Daniel E. Mullins

Extension Horticulture Agent

Santa Rosa County

The Time is Near for Controlling Mole Crickets

Mole crickets have become serious lawn pests. There are three different species of concern – the southern, short-winged and tawny. Damage to turfgrass is due to their tunneling which loosens the soil, causing it to dry out and also from actually feeding upon the roots. There are even cases where above ground grass parts are pulled into the tunnels and eaten there.

There are native, non damaging species of mole crickets in the United States, but these three as a group, have become a leading lawn pest in the Deep South. The management of this pest requires a basic understanding of its life cycle. Too many homeowners are wasting time and money by applying an insecticide any time during the year that mole cricket tunnels are seen.

There is only one generation of mole crickets produced each year, as opposed to some insect species that might reproduce every few weeks. Over-wintering is in the adult stage. They emerge from the soil during spring, fly, mate and then disperse. Each female lands, prepares a chamber and deposits 25 to 60 eggs. The hatching of nymphs occurs between April and June.

The mole cricket life cycle has been studied for years and it is now known that in our area, all are present in the lawn by late June. They are usually small at this time, so damage is not easily seen.

The point is: With most insecticides the best time to treat for mole cricket control is during late June or early July. Earlier treatments are not as effective because they haven’t all arrived yet. Treating in the late summer or fall doesn’t work well either because by then the crickets are big, tough and more mobile in the soil. Adults have been found up to five feet deep – way out of reach of an insecticide.

Every lawn doesn’t need treatment. It is best to monitor to see if there are enough mole crickets present to justify an application of insecticide. Check several areas in the yard, using the “soap flush” technique. Mix one and one-half ounces of lemon scented dishwashing detergent in a sprinkling can with two gallons of water. Empty the contents slowly on a four square foot area of lawn. Wait three minutes. Mole crickets that are present near the soil surface will burrow to the top and can be counted. If an average of two to four crickets is found in each area, then treatment may be justified.

The monitoring technique works well, but only on moist soil. The young mole crickets will be relatively small during June, so watch carefully when using the soap flush.

There are several products that are labeled for mole cricket control in the lawn by home owners. These include those with one of the following active ingredients: Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Fipronil, Imidacloprid, Lambda-cyhalothrin and Permethrin. There is another control product that is a bio-pesticide. It contains the beneficial nematode, Steinernema scapterisci.

Additional information is available at the following web site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/LH/LH03900.pdf

This is a six page document that provides much more detail concerning mole cricket biology and control. It includes a table that lists the labeled control products, complete with registered trade names.

Question of the Week: My cucumbers are bearing well, but they are bitter. What could be causing this?

Answer: Excessive nitrogen in the soil is believed to cause bitter cucumbers. This can be corrected by reducing the amount of nitrogen containing fertilizer that is applied. Since the bitterness is normally found only in the skin, try peeling the cucumbers until the problem is resolved.