Southern Mole Cricket vs Pink Underwing Katydid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Southern Mole Cricket Pink Underwing Katydid
Scientific Name Neoscapteriscus borellii Amblycorypha oblongifolia
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Gryllotalpidae Tettigoniidae
Size 25-35 mm 40-55 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Underground
Diet Root Feeders Herbivores
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.

Pink Underwing Katydid

A North American katydid with bright green leaf-like forewings. Rare pink morphs occur naturally and are highly sought by collectors.

💡

Did You Know?

About 1 in 500 individuals display a rare genetic pink color morph caused by erythrism.