{"id":12937,"date":"2022-10-07T05:48:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T05:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=12937"},"modified":"2026-09-15T19:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:30:30","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\u2019t 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, so time it right or you\u2019ll be doing it twice.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Damage from heavy infestations doesn\u2019t always bounce back on its own. Lawn Love can connect you with <a href=\"https:\/\/signup-web.lawnlove.com\/cart\/contact-info?intent=fertilization\">local lawn care professionals<\/a> who can treat the problem and help your lawn recover.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-7cf2ccc8-2f4b-4230-88b2-c43b1e046c6b\" 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-what-do-mole-crickets-look-like\" style=\"\">What do mole crickets look like?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-mole-crickets\/#5-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\/#6-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\/#7-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 decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mole-cricket-insecticide.jpg\" alt=\"BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer Photo Credit: BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer. Jeff Herman \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fastest way to get rid of mole crickets is a contact insecticide such as bifenthrin or fipronil, applied to moist soil in June or July when the nymphs are still small. Prefer a natural route? Beneficial nematodes and neem oil also work when the timing is right.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t underestimate the damage they can cause.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMole crickets have become the most destructive insect pest on turf and lawns in Gulf Coast states,\u201d according to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aces.edu\/blog\/topics\/lawn-garden\/biology-and-control-of-mole-crickets\/\">Alabama Extension<\/a>.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Damage and replacement costs run into the millions every year, shredding patches of Bermudagrass and bahiagrass in just a few weeks.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Timing is everything when treating mole crickets. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/mole-cricket-management-in-turfgrass\/\">Clemson University<\/a> recommends treating in June and July, when the crickets are still small and turf damage is minor. Mole crickets mate and lay eggs in spring through early summer, and by late summer the nymphs are full-grown and much harder to kill.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ben McGraw, professor and program coordinator of Turfgrass Science at Pennsylvania State University, agrees that treating them in the early stages is key.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;For most insect pests (mole crickets, sod webworms, and armyworms), targeted insecticide applications timed to young larval stages are most effective,&#8221; he says.<\/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>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Active ingredient<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>How it works<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bifenthrin (e.g., Talstar)<\/td><td>Fast-acting contact killer; comes as a liquid or granules, watered in after application<\/td><td>Nymphs near the surface<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fipronil<\/td><td>Broad-spectrum contact insecticide; sold as granules<\/td><td>Both nymphs and adults<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Imidacloprid<\/td><td>Systemic insecticide absorbed into the turf; slower than contact products<\/td><td>Young nymphs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <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\u2019t wash away, then 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\" 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\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A soil nematode microorganism viewed under a 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\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Phoebe<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019d rather skip chemical insecticides, a few natural options are available:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><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.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><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.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><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 to confirm activity, not as a full treatment.<\/p><\/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\u2019t wipe out a heavy mole cricket population on its own.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-care-organic-pest-control-options\/\">Best Organic Pest Control Options for Your Lawn<\/a><\/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-for-pest-control\/\">How to Use Beneficial Nematodes for Pest Control<\/a><\/p>    <h2 id=\"4-what-do-mole-crickets-look-like\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"what-do-mole-crickets-look-like\">What do mole crickets look like?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing what you are dealing with saves you from treating the wrong pest. Mole crickets have a gray-brown, velvety body about an inch long, with wide, shovel-like front legs built for digging. Adults have wings and can fly, while younger nymphs look like smaller, wingless versions of the adults.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><strong>Tawny mole cricket:<\/strong> the most damaging species in the Southeast, feeding heavily on grass roots and shoots<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Southern mole cricket:<\/strong> more of a predator that feeds on other insects, so it does less turf damage<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Short-winged mole cricket:<\/strong> found mostly along the coast and unable to fly, which keeps it in one place<\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A native northern mole cricket also turns up in cooler areas, but it rarely causes the kind of lawn damage the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ask.ifas.ufl.edu\/publication\/IN391\">southern species<\/a> are known for.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"5-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\" 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\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mole crickets are nocturnal and live underground, so damage often shows up before you ever see one. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/mole-crickets-eyes-to-eyes-macrophotography-of-an-insect-in-its-natural-environment\/450735045\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Videocorpus<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you treat, make sure it\u2019s mole crickets and not moles. The damage looks similar, but the treatments are completely different.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey misidentify and perform wrong treatments, causing a delay in solving the problem,\u201d 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><p><strong>Raised tunnels and mounds<\/strong>: spongy, raised ridges or small piles of loose soil pushed up as they burrow<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Brown or dead patches<\/strong>: irregular dead spots that won\u2019t recover with watering, because the roots underneath have been cut<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Uprooted seedlings<\/strong>: especially in newly seeded areas<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Low chirping at dusk<\/strong>: males chirp for about an hour after sunset during mating season<\/p><\/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><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-repair-lawn\/\">When is the Best Time to Repair Your Lawn?<\/a><\/p><\/li>    <li><p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-moles-in-yard\/\">How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard<\/a><\/p><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 id=\"6-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><p><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.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><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.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><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.<\/p><\/li>    <li><p><strong>Plant pentas around your lawn.<\/strong> White-flowered pentas attract <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ask.ifas.ufl.edu\/publication\/IN1021\"><em>Larra bicolor<\/em> wasps<\/a>, which the University of Florida (UF\/IFAS) introduced to Florida to hunt mole crickets. The wasps don\u2019t sting people and forage at least 200 yards from a nectar source.<\/p><\/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 the first time will pull them right back. Prevention works far better than treatment, especially for lawns with a history.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/integrated-pest-management-lawn\/\">Integrated Pest Management for the Lawn<\/a><\/p>    <h2 id=\"7-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-17884460446382866\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Are mole crickets dangerous to people or pets?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, mole crickets are <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu\/encyclopedia\/mole-cricket\">harmless to people<\/a> and pets. They have no stinger and no venom, so they can\u2019t sting or seriously hurt you. Your lawn is the only victim.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17884460446383160\"><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 and burrow into the moist soil nearby to mate, so new infestations often start around porch lights, streetlights, or landscape lighting.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17884460446384268\"><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, which is how they spread to new lawns that have never had a mole cricket problem before.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-17884460446383144\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you completely get rid of mole crickets?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Usually not completely; the realistic goal is reducing the population, not eradication. Well-timed summer treatments plus prevention keep numbers low enough for your turf to recover and stay healthy.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 id=\"8-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\">Mole crickets leave damage behind: 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 rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/mole-cricket-gryllotalpa-sp-lake-baratz-sardinia-italy\/760844319\">antasfoto<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to get rid of mole crickets: treat with bifenthrin or fipronil in June and July, use beneficial nematodes, and spot the signs before damage spreads.<\/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":5,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49044,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12937\/revisions\/49044"}],"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}]}}