Southern Mole Cricket vs Diamondback Eumolpid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Mole Cricket | Diamondback Eumolpid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neoscapteriscus borellii | Colaspis brunnea |
| Order | Orthoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Gryllotalpidae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm | 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Farmland |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | South America (native), Southern United States (invasive), Australia (invasive) | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Southern Mole Cricket
A South American mole cricket that has become an invasive turf pest in the southern United States and Australia. It tunnels through soil near the surface, severing grass roots and leaving raised trails.
Did You Know?
It can fly strongly at night and is attracted to lights, which is how it colonized new areas after its accidental introduction.
Diamondback Eumolpid
A small, oblong beetle with a pale brown to yellowish body and rows of punctures on the elytra. Larvae are known as grape colaspis and damage roots of various crops.
Did You Know?
Larvae are most damaging to corn and soybean planted after clover, as populations build up in clover root zones before crop rotation.