ANR-176 CONTROLLING MOLE CRICKETS ON LAWNS AND TURF
ANR-176, Revised May 1998. Patricia
P. Cobb, Extension Entomologist, Professor, Entomology, Auburn University
Controlling Mole
Crickets on Lawns and Turf |
Mole crickets
have become our number one destructive insect pests on turf and
lawns in Alabama. Although mole crickets infest only the southern
half of the state, about $12 million is spent in Alabama each
year to control them. Hybrid bermudagrasses, common bermudagrass,
bahiagrass, zoysiagrasses, and centipedegrass are most severely
damaged.
Description, Life History,
and Damage
Mole crickets (order Orthoptera, family Gryllidae) have grayish-brown,
velvety bodies and broad, spade-like front legs adapted for digging.
They have large beady eyes and are 1 to 1-1/4 inches long when fully grown. Adult mole crickets
have wings and are attracted to lights at night. Immature mole
crickets (nymphs) resemble the adults except they are smaller
and lack fully developed wings.
There are two types (species) of pest mole crickets in Alabama:
southern mole cricket (Scapteriscus borellei Rehn and Hebard)
and tawny mole cricket (Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder).
The southern mole cricket feeds on a variety of organisms in the
soil and causes mainly tunneling damage. As mole crickets tunnel
through the soil, they uproot grass plants, which dry out and
die.
Southern mole crickets are usually gray with white spots
or mottling on the top of the area behind the head. Their digging
claws have a U-shaped space between them (Figure 1). Southern
mole crickets are predators in the soil.
Tawny mole crickets are plant feeders as well as tunnelers.
Their feeding damage can result in sudden, severe turf loss during
late summer and fall. Tawny mole crickets are usually tan rather
than gray. There is a V-shaped space between their digging claws
(Figure 1).
Mole crickets spend the winter in deep burrows
in the soil. When the soil warms in the spring and night temperatures
approach 60 degrees F, mole crickets move up to feed on grass.
Feeding occurs primarily at night in the upper 1 inch of the soil.
Mole crickets also forage on the soil surface when night temperatures
are warm and the soil is moist. Activity increases in the spring,
and adults fly and mate.
Female mole crickets lay eggs in chambers beneath the soil
surface in spring and early summer. The eggs begin hatching during
May and early June. Nymphs feed and develop during the summer.
There is one generation a year, although egg laying and hatching
may be spread out over several weeks.
![](Images/Figure2.jpeg)
Nymph damage to grass is usually obvious by mid- to late July.
By this time, the nymphs are large enough to cause noticeable
feeding and tunneling damage. Many mole crickets reach maturity
by fall and fly again. However, mating is not known to occur during
the late season (Figure 2).
Control
Mole cricket control depends on the season of the year and
the life stages that the pests are in at the time. Mole cricket
control is not a one-time, one-insecticide application. Control
depends on an annual, well-timed plan. Timing of controls and
cultural practices is as important as the choice of insecticides.
Overwintered mole crickets become active in March and April.
Treatment at this time is optional except in highly maintained
turf areas or sod fields. Early spring treatment reduces tunneling
damage but usually does not replace treatment later in the season.
The major effort in tawny mole cricket control with insecticides
should be directed toward young nymphs. Treatments in June, July,
and even early August on the more vulnerable nymphs are more effective
than later treatments on larger mole crickets. Parasitic nematodes
that attack adult mole crickets can be applied in the spring before
female mole crickets lay eggs. Presently, these nematodes are
not available commercially.
Sometimes it is difficult to convince homeowners
to treat in late June or July because by that time, there is little
(if any) evidence of the spring's mole cricket damage. If mole
crickets were active in an area during March, April, and May,
there are usually treatable populations of new-generation nymphs
that hatch there in June and July. By the time mole cricket damage
is visible, control efforts are more difficult. Treatment time
in early summer (June and July) is related to when tawny mole
crickets hatch. In Alabama, hatching most years begins anywhere
from mid-May to early June.
Verify the presence of young nymphs by monitoring the area
with the soap flush technique. Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon-scented
liquid dishwashing detergent in 1 gallon of water. Pour the soapy
water onto 1 to 2 square feet of infested area. Any mole crickets
present will surface in a few minutes. This is best done early
or late in the day. Irrigate the area after flushing to minimize
sun scalding of the turf. This technique can be used at other
times during spring to fall to confirm the presence of mole crickets
and to monitor development. Spring weather patterns and moisture
conditions contribute to developmental timing.
An assessment of spring tunneling activity
on golf courses, sod farms, and other large turf areas can aid
in reducing the area treated and pesticide usage when new-generation
nymphs hatch later. Map larger turf areas in the spring, showing
areas of overwintered mole cricket activity. Maps of fairways
or fields can be made by using landscape plantings or distance
markers as landmarks. Target these sites for treatment during
June or July. Mole cricket mapping saves labor and usually reduces
pesticide usage and costs.
The following charts include recommended insecticides for homeowner
and professional use. Be sure to follow label directions precisely
and apply only to registered sites as directed. c
Insecticide Recommendations For Homeowner
Use. |
Insecticide* |
Amount To Use |
Comments |
SPRING (March, April, May) |
**acephate
ORTHENE Turf, Tree, And Ornamental Spray or PINPOINT
15G |
1-1/3 oz. or 6 T.
0.45 to 0.75 lb./1,000 sq. ft. |
Apply Orthene Turf, Tree and
Ornamental Spray in 1 gallon of water per 1,000 square feet.
Keep grass watered and packed down where tunneling occurs and
fertilize properly. Orthene TT&O may reduce tunneling damage
but does not replace summer treatment. |
SUMMER (June, July, August) |
acephate
ORTHENE Turf, Tree, And Ornamental Spray or PINPOINT 15G |
1-1/3 oz. or 6 T.
0.45 to 0.75 lb./1,000 sq. ft. |
Apply in 1 gallon of water per 1,000 square
feet from mid-July. Repeat applications are necessary. |
Or, |
|
|
chlorpyrifos
DURSBAN 0.5%
Mole Cricket Bait |
|
Apply as label directs from mid-July to September.
Repeat applications are necessary. |
Or, |
|
|
isofenphos
OFTANOL 1.5G |
3 lb./1,000 sq. ft. 1 application/year a
year. no more than 2 years |
Apply 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet in mid-
to late June, one application |
FALL (September, October) |
Spot treat with Orthene
or Dursban bait. |
|
|
|
Insecticide Recommendatons For Professional Use. |
Insecticide* |
Rate |
Comments |
SPRING (March, April, May) |
Map areas of overwintered mole
cricket activity for later treatment of new-generation nymphs
during late spring or early summer.
Mole-cricket-parasitic nematodes most effectively infect adults
that are present in spring and fall.
Monitor mole cricket development throughout the season! |
**acephate
ORTHENE Turf, Tree and Ornamental spray (TT&O)
PINPOINT 15G |
4 to 5 lb./Acre
20 to 33 lb./Acre |
Maintain turf as recommended for grass type.
Keep tunneled areas packed down. Orthene may reduce tunneling
of overwintered adults but does not replace summer treatment
of nymphs. |
imidacloprid
MERIT .5G
MERIT 75WP |
60 lb./Acre
6.4 oz./Acre |
Apply at or just before first hatch. (If
half or more of females collected contain eggs that are hard
and beadlike, first hatch can be expected in about 2 weeks or
less.) |
SUMMER (June, July, August) |
**acephate
ORTHENE TT&O |
3.5 to 5 lb./Acre |
Apply Orthene sprays to nymphs older than
newly hatched. Most years, applications after 6 weeks from first
hatch are most effective. |
bendiocarb
TURCAM 76W
TURCAM 2.5G |
2 oz./1,000 sq. ft.
3.7 lb./1,000 sq. ft. |
Apply Turcam within 6 weeks of first hatch to young nymphs. Turcam
is a RESTRICTED USE pesticide. |
chlorpyrifos
DURSBAN 50WP
DURSBAN 0.5% BAIT
DURSBAN 1% BAIT
DURSBAN PRO |
5 to 6 lb./Acre
100 to 200 lb./Acre
50 to 100 lb.
4 to 6 qt./Acre |
Apply within 2 to 4 weeks after first hatch to young nymphs.
Apply bait from 4 weeks after first hatch through mid-September
to nymphs.
Surface applications of registered formulations may effectively
suppress activity on new sod fields or other registered (where
grass has not completely covered the soil). formulations In Alabama,
subsurface applications have been effective from June through
July on nymphs. |
ethoprop
MOCAP 10G |
100 lb./Acre |
Surface applications of Mocap should be made
within 6 weeks after first hatch to young nymphs. Do not
apply to wet turf. Subsurface applications have been effective
from late May through July in Alabama. Mocap is a RESTRICTED
USE pesticide. |
fipronil
CHIPCO CHOICE .1G |
|
Chipco Choice and its application are available
only through company representatives. |
**isazophos
TRIUMPH 4E |
1.5 fl. oz./1,000 sq. ft., or 0.5 gal./Acre/year |
See site and soil texture restrictions
on the label. Apply Triumph from 2 weeks after first hatch. Triumph
is a RESTRICTED USE pesticide. |
isofenphos
OFTANOL 5G
OFTANOL 2 |
40 lb./Acre/year
1 gal./Acre/year |
Apply Oftanol shortly before or at first
hatch. Make one application per year for no more than 2 years. |
FALL (September, October) |
Spot treat with Orthene TT&O
or Triumph 4E (Restricted rates, Restricted Use pesticide).
Mole-cricket-parasitic nematodes most effectively infect adults
that are present in the fall. |
*Refer to label for use and site restrictions.
**Acephate (Orthene TT&O) and isazophos
(Triumph 4E) are broken down by high pH water. Test pH of spray
water and buffer with a commercial buffering solution to pH 5.5
to 6.0. Manufacture of isazophos discontinued.
Key: E or EC = emulsifiable concentrate; G
= granular; W = wettable powder
|
What You Need to Know about Insecticides and
Application for Mole Cricket Control
Orthene Turf, Tree, and Ornamental
Spray (acephate) is a soluble powder (75%) recommended
for mole cricket control at 3-1/2 to 5 pounds of formulated material
per acre, or 1-1/3 ounces (about 6 tablespoons) per 1,000 square
feet. It should be applied in 1 to 2 gallons of water per 1,000
square feet late in the day (or early evening) and not watered
in.
Turcam 2.5 G (bendiocarb)
is a restricted use pesticide, available by special permit only
to professional applicators. Apply within 6 weeks after first
observed hatch at a rate of 1.9 to 3.7 pounds of formulated material
per 1,000 square feet (2 to 4 pounds of active ingredient per
acre). Water in immediately.
Dursban 50WP or Dursban Pro
(chlorpyrifos) are spray formulations that should be applied
to young nymphs 2 to 4 weeks after first observed hatch. Irrigate
within 24 hours prior to and following afternoon or early evening
application of registered amounts.
Triumph 4E (isazophos)
is a restricted use pesticide, available by special permit only
to professional applicators, restricted to use on home lawns,
established golf greens and tees, and sod farms on soils that
are not sand or loamy sand. Apply 1-1/2 fluid ounces per 1,000
square feet (2 pounds of active ingredient per acre) per year,
as one application or two of 3/4 fluid ounces per 1,000 square
feet (1 pound of active ingredient per acre) each. Water in immediately.
Merit .5G or 75WP (imidacloprid)
is the first of a new class of insecticides. It is for professional
use only. Merit is a systemic insecticide and moves slowly into
plants. Therefore, Merit must be applied early in order to control
small nymphs as they hatch.
Mocap 10G (ethoprop) is
a restricted use pesticide, available by special permit only to
professional applicators, applied at 100 pounds per acre (10 pounds
active ingredient per acre). Apply within 6 weeks after first
observed hatch and water immediately after application. Do not
apply Mocap to wet turf. Mocap 10G is NOT for use on domestic
turf.
Oftanol 5G and 2 (isofenphos)
are for professional use. Oftanol 1.5G is for home use. Oftanol
may not be effective in areas where it has been used more than
twice. Limit its use to newly established areas that have not
been treated with Oftanol previously. Where it is used, application
should be done at first observed hatch and watered in. Application
rates are 3 pounds of the 1.5G per 1,000 square feet; 1 gallon
of the 2L or 40 pounds of the 5G per acre (2 pounds of active
ingredient per acre). Water in immediately. Use only once a year.
Dursban 0.5% Mole Cricket Bait
(chlorpyrifos) is available to homeowners and professional
applicators. Baits are most effective from mid to late summer
and are applied two or three (or more) times. Rates are 5 pounds
of bait per 1,000 square feet; 150 pounds of bait per acre (this
can be as effective if divided into two 75-pound-per-acre treatments,
3 to 4 weeks apart). Apply late in the day; do not water in.
Subsurface and Slit Placement
are new, experimental technologies by which liquid or granular
insecticides are placed into the turf for control of soil insects.
High-pressure liquid injection places sprays into the turf from
surface nozzles operating at 1,500 to 2,000 psi. So far, Dursban
Turf Insecticide (for professional use) is the only insecticide
registered for turf that has obtained labeling in Alabama for
high-pressure injection.
Slit placement of granular formulations into the turf surface
is accomplished with equipment that slices the turf, drops granules,
and closes furrows. Equipment of this type was developed from
modified slit seeders.
Both types of equipment are available commercially. Contract
applications are available from professional applicators.
Advantages of subsurface placement are reduced surface residues,
usually increased residual of insecticides, and often control
with less than labeled rates. Amount of available soil moisture
at time of application, excessive rainfall after application,
soil texture, and soil drainage all influence the effectiveness
of subsurface applications.
Chipco Choice .1G is the
first of a new class of insecticides. Rates of 0.0125 to 0.025
pound of active ingredient per acre control mole crickets throughout
the season. Applications and product are available only through
company representatives.
Nematodes that infect mole
crickets have been used commercially for several years. Steinernema
riobravis and S. scapterisci are nematode species that
infect and kill only adult mole crickets. These nematodes do not
destroy beneficial insects, nor do they feed on grass plants.
Mole cricket infection must occur or these nematodes die. Like
most biological control products, mole cricket nematodes do not
work like insecticides. Most often, mole crickets are suppressed
rather than eliminated. This means that depending on site thresholds,
fewer treatments and, thus, less insecticide may be used to control
turf damage. Conditions at application are very important. Apply
late in the day to warm, moist (prewatered) soil infested with
adult mole crickets. Irrigate after treatment. Nematode products
are exempt from registration, but the label specifies how to use
the product for maximum infectivity. For further information,
contact your county Extension agent.
Use pesticides only according
to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions,
and restrictions that are listed. Do not use pesticides on plants
that are not listed on the label.
The pesticide rates in this publication are
recommended only if they are registered with the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and
Industries. If a registration is changed or cancelled, the rate
listed here is no longer recommended. Before you apply any pesticide,
check with your county Extension agent for the latest information.
Trade names are used only to give specific
information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not
endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product
instead of another that might be similar.
For more information, contact your county Extension
office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name
to find the number.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and
home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related
acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal
opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.
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