Neighborhood Pest Control

Several species of mole crickets are prevalent in Florida. Adults are about 1 inch long, light brown in color, and have forelegs that are well adapted for tunneling through the soil. Although Bermuda and Bahia are mole cricket's favorite grass variety, St. Augustine can also be seriously damaged.

Mole crickets damage grass in several ways. They tunnel through soil near the surface. This tunneling action loosens the soil so that grass is often uprooted and dies due to the drying out of the root system. They also feed on grass roots, causing thinning of the turf, eventually resulting in bare soil.