Tawny Mole Cricket vs Eggplant Flea Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tawny Mole Cricket Eggplant Flea Beetle
Scientific Name Neoscapteriscus vicinus Epitrix fuscula
Order Orthoptera Coleoptera
Family Gryllotalpidae Chrysomelidae
Size 25-35mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Root Feeders Herbivores
Regions South America, North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Tawny Mole Cricket

An invasive burrowing cricket with tan coloring and powerful digging forelegs. It is a major turf pest in the southeastern United States. Its tunnels damage grass roots extensively.

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Did You Know?

A single mole cricket can tunnel up to 6 meters per night, leaving raised ridges of dying turf behind it.

Eggplant Flea Beetle

A small dark beetle that creates dense shothole feeding damage on eggplant and potato leaves. Heavy infestations can stunt seedlings and reduce yields significantly.

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Did You Know?

Row covers placed over seedlings at transplanting are one of the most effective non-chemical controls for this pest.