Tawny Mole Cricket vs Southern Mole Cricket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tawny Mole Cricket | Southern Mole Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neoscapteriscus vicinus | Neoscapteriscus borellii |
| Order | Orthoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Gryllotalpidae | Gryllotalpidae |
| Size | 25-35mm | 25-35 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | South America, North America | South America (native), Southern United States (invasive), Australia (invasive) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
A single mole cricket can tunnel up to 6 meters per night, leaving raised ridges of dying turf behind it.
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.