{"id":12937,"date":"2022-10-07T05:48:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T05:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=12937"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:52:08","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of Mole Crickets"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Key takeaways<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2022 <strong>Bifenthrin and fipronil<\/strong> work fastest; treat in June and July when nymphs are small.<br>\u2022 <strong>Bermudagrass and bahiagrass<\/strong> are hit hardest.<br>\u2022 <strong>Mole crickets<\/strong> don&#8217;t bite or sting, but they wreck lawns.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to get rid of mole crickets: apply bifenthrin or fipronil in June or July when nymphs are small. Prefer natural control? Beneficial nematodes work on moist soil in the evening. Either way, time it right or you&#8217;ll be doing it twice.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t underestimate the damage they can cause. &#8220;Mole crickets have become the most destructive insect pest on turf and lawns in Gulf Coast states,&#8221; according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aces.edu\/blog\/topics\/lawn-garden\/biology-and-control-of-mole-crickets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alabama Extension<\/a>. Damage and replacement costs run into the millions every year, and they can shred patches of Bermudagrass and bahiagrass in just a few weeks.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Damage from heavy infestations doesn&#8217;t always bounce back on its own.<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\"> <\/a>Lawn Love can connect you with <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\">local lawn care professionals<\/a> who can help your lawn recover.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-bb1774c0-10c3-4685-b9a9-7bab421b41c3\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/#0-how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\" style=\"\">How to get rid of mole crickets<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/#4-signs-of-mole-crickets-in-your-lawn\" style=\"\">Signs of mole crickets in your lawn<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/#5-how-to-prevent-mole-crickets\" style=\"\">How to prevent mole crickets<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/#6-faqs\" style=\"\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 id=\"0-how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\">How to get rid of mole crickets<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide.jpg\" alt=\"BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer\" class=\"wp-image-13109\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide-510x382.jpg 510w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide-610x458.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer. Jeff Herman \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Timing is everything when treating mole crickets. <a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/mole-cricket-management-in-turfgrass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clemson University<\/a> recommends treating in June and July, when the crickets are still small, and turf damage is minor. Why that window? Mole crickets mate and lay eggs February through June, with nymphs hatching mid-spring. By late summer, the nymphs are full-grown and much harder to kill.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"1-chemical-mole-cricket-killers-most-effective\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"chemical-mole-cricket-killers-most-effective\">Chemical mole cricket killers (most effective)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose an insecticide product with one of these active ingredients:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Bifenthrin (e.g., Talstar):<\/strong> a fast-acting contact killer that works on nymphs near the surface. Comes as a liquid or granules. Apply to moist soil and water it in after<\/li>    <li><strong>Fipronil:<\/strong> a broad-spectrum contact insecticide that kills both nymphs and adults. Sold as granules<\/li>    <li><strong>Imidacloprid:<\/strong> a systemic insecticide that gets absorbed into the turf. Slower than contact products but still effective on young nymphs<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apply granules or spray to moist soil in the evening, when mole crickets come up to feed.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mole cricket bait is another chemical option. Bait granules are laced with insecticide that crickets eat while foraging at night. Scatter them at dusk and skip watering for a few days so the bait doesn&#8217;t wash away. Reapply after rain.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"2-organic-mole-cricket-control\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"organic-mole-cricket-control\">Organic mole cricket control<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_621174609.jpg\" alt=\"A soil nematode microorganism viewed under a microscope in a soil and compost sample\" class=\"wp-image-46871\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_621174609.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_621174609-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_621174609-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_621174609-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A nematode viewed under the microscope in a soil and compost sample. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/soil-switcher-nematode-microorganism-and-soil-biology-with-nematodes-and-fungi-under-the-microscope-in-a-soil-and-compost-sample\/621174609\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Phoebe<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;d rather skip chemical insecticides, a few natural options are available:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Beneficial nematodes:<\/strong> These microscopic worms hunt down mole cricket nymphs in warm, moist soil. Apply right after rain or watering, in the morning or evening, since UV rays kill nematodes. They start killing crickets within 24 to 48 hours.<\/li>    <li><strong>Neem oil:<\/strong> Mix neem oil with water and spray on areas with cricket activity. It interferes with feeding and reproduction and is safe for people, pets, and pollinators.<\/li>    <li><strong>Soapy water flush:<\/strong> Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water and pour onto active spots in the evening. Crickets will surface, and you can pick them off. This works best as a way to confirm activity, not a full treatment.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Neem oil works best as a backup to other treatments or for small infestations. It won&#8217;t wipe out a heavy mole cricket population on its own.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"3-professional-pest-control\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"professional-pest-control\">Professional pest control<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For big infestations or repeat problems, call a licensed pro. Pest control companies know the right products, the right concentrations, and the right timing for your region. That regional know-how is often the difference between a clean kill and a wasted treatment season.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/beneficial-nematodes\/\">How to Use Beneficial Nematodes for Pest Control<\/a><\/p>    <h2 id=\"4-signs-of-mole-crickets-in-your-lawn\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"signs-of-mole-crickets-in-your-lawn\">Signs of mole crickets in your lawn<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_450735045.jpg\" alt=\"Closeup macro photo of a mole cricket emerging from a burrow in soil\" class=\"wp-image-46889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_450735045.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_450735045-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_450735045-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_450735045-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mole cricket peers out from its burrow in the soil. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/mole-crickets-eyes-to-eyes-macrophotography-of-an-insect-in-its-natural-environment\/450735045\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Videocorpus<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you treat, make sure it&#8217;s mole crickets and not moles. The damage looks similar, but the treatments are completely different.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;They misidentify and perform wrong treatments, causing a delay in solving the problem,&#8221; says Daniel Banting, technician at Native Pest Management in West Palm Beach, Florida.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mole crickets are nocturnal and live underground, so damage often shows up before you ever see one. Watch for these signs:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Raised tunnels and mounds<\/strong>: spongy, raised ridges or small piles of loose soil pushed up as they burrow<\/li>    <li><strong>Brown or dead patches<\/strong>: irregular dead spots that won&#8217;t recover with watering, because the roots underneath have been cut<\/li>    <li><strong>Uprooted seedlings<\/strong>: especially in newly seeded areas<\/li>    <li><strong>Low chirping at dusk<\/strong>: males chirp for about an hour after sunset during mating season<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Try the soapy water test to confirm. <\/strong>Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water and pour over a 1-square-foot area. If mole crickets surface within a few minutes, you have an active infestation.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Mole crickets love areas with heavy <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-thatch\/\">thatch<\/a> and lawns near trees, decks, and patios. Thatch gives overwintering adults a warm place to hide.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-repair-lawn\/\">When is the Best Time to Repair Your Lawn?<\/a><\/p>    <h2 id=\"5-how-to-prevent-mole-crickets\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how-to-prevent-mole-crickets\">How to prevent mole crickets<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three things attract mole crickets: warm-season grasses, thick thatch, and moist soil. That covers most Southeast lawns.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Reduce thatch.<\/strong> Thick thatch shelters overwintering adults. <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/dethatching\/\">Dethatching<\/a> in the fall takes that shelter away and helps your turf<\/li>    <li><strong>Listen in late spring.<\/strong> Low chirping about an hour after sunset means males are calling. Catch them early, and you can treat during the effective June and July window<\/li>    <li><strong>Encourage natural predators.<\/strong> Birds, ground beetles, bats, and lizards all eat mole crickets. A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-attract-birds\/\">bird-friendly yard<\/a> has a built-in advantage<\/li>    <li><strong>Plant pentas around your lawn.<\/strong> White-flowered pentas attract Larra bicolor wasps, which UF\/IFAS introduced to Florida specifically to hunt mole crickets. The wasps don&#8217;t sting people and will forage up to 200 yards from a nectar source<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawns that have had mole crickets once tend to get them again. The same conditions that drew them in the first time will pull them right back. Prevention works far better than treatment, especially for lawns with a history.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"6-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780333099784\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are mole crickets dangerous to people or pets?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Mole crickets are harmless to people and pets, according to the University of Florida IFAS. No venom, no sting. Grab one and it might bite, but the bite is a mild pinch \u2014 no allergic reactions, no serious risk. Your lawn is the only victim.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780333110385\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do I have mole crickets or moles in my lawn?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The damage can look the same, but the tunnels don&#8217;t. Mole cricket tunnels are narrow (about half an inch\u00a0<br><br>wide), shallow, and irregular. Mole tunnels are wider, more defined, with clearly pushed-up soil. Still not sure? Pour the soapy water flush over the suspected area. Mole crickets will surface within minutes. Moles won&#8217;t.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780333133360\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are mole crickets attracted to light?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Adult mole crickets fly toward outdoor lights at night, then burrow into the moist soil nearby to mate and lay eggs, according to UF\/IFAS. New infestations often start around porch lights, streetlights, or landscape lighting. If damage starts showing up near a light source, that&#8217;s likely the entry point.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1780333147884\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can mole crickets fly?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Adult mole crickets fly during mating season in spring and early summer. That&#8217;s how they spread to new lawns, often turning up in yards that have never had a mole cricket problem before.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 id=\"7-hire-a-local-lawn-care-pro\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"hire-a-local-lawn-care-pro\">Hire a local lawn care pro<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"12-mole-crickets-leave-damage-behind-%E2%80%94-bare-patches-weakened-roots-thinning-turf-getting-your-lawn-healthy-again-often-takes-aeration-overseeding-or-reseeding-lawn-love-can-connect-you-with-local-lawn-care-professionals-who-handle-that-kind-of-repair-free-instant-quote-vetted-local-pro-done\">Mole crickets leave damage behind \u2014 bare patches, weakened roots, thinning turf. Getting your lawn healthy again often takes aeration, overseeding, or reseeding. Lawn Love can connect you with <a href=\"https:\/\/signup-web.lawnlove.com\/cart\/contact-info?intent=aerationOverseedingPackage\">local lawn care professionals<\/a> who handle that kind of repair. Free instant quote, vetted local pro, done.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image: A mole cricket (Gryllotalpa sp.) crawls across mossy soil. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/mole-cricket-gryllotalpa-sp-lake-baratz-sardinia-italy\/760844319\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">antasfoto<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to get rid of mole crickets: use bifenthrin or fipronil in June and July when nymphs are small, plus organic options like beneficial nematodes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":46890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[294],"tags":[161],"class_list":["post-12937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pest-control","tag-pest-control"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AdobeStock_760844319.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Raven Wisdom","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/raven-wisdom\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12937"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48243,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12937\/revisions\/48243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}