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Mole Cricket Damage in Lawns
Mole crickets are the number one pest of turf in
southern Alabama and Georgia, throughout Florida, and are spreading quickly along the Gulf
Coastal region and Eastern Seaboard. (Click here
to see picture of 4 main molecrickets that are pests to lawns in the Southeastern United
States.) Their damage appears as brown spongy areas within normal green grass.
Upon inspection you will notice the grass has been eaten just below the surface,
separating the plant from its roots. Mole crickets are especially fond of Bermuda and
centipede grass, but have also been found in St. Augustine lawns in the Florida Panhandle
and along the Alabama coast
Mole Cricket Adults and Nymphs
Adult mole crickets are plump, winged and 1 to 1.25 inches long. They are seldom seen, because, like moles, they stay underground most of the time.
They fly and mate twice a year, spring and fall. At this time you will find their exit holes of an inch or more. Mole cricket nymphs are wingless but look like small adults. The nymphs can become very numerous and cause great damage to your grass during the warm summer months. Control methods aimed at eliminating mole cricket nymphs yield the best results, simply because they easier to kill than adults.
When to apply pesticides for killing molecrickets
Eliminate molecrickets
with
Talstar, Acephate insecticides
Mole crickets have become resistant to Diazinon, Dursban, Sevin (Carbaryl), and Malathion. Two products that still work well are 75% Acephate and Talstar. Top Choice can now be used to control molecrickets. Containing Fipronil, Top Choice will control molecrickets for up to four months. Proper timing of pesticide application is a must. Without proper timing, many pesticide applications will fail. Top Choice was originally used for controlling fire ants but is now labeled for molecrickets, fleas, ticks and nuisance ant pests.
Treating With 75% Acephate for
Mole Crickets, Spittlebugs, Chinch Bugs
This is a systemic insecticide that must be applied 48 hours before rainfall or irrigation. Before treating with Acephate the ground should be very wet. Wetting the lawn with a mild soap solution works even better. This pulls the mole crickets and chinch bugs up to the top of the thatch and insures a good kill after spraying. Apply Acephate with a hose end sprayer, making applications early or late in the day. When treating for spittlebugs, pre-dawn applications will give a thorough kill. A one pound container of Acephate will cover 8,000 to 12,000 square feet. Three applications are needed each year. Spot applications may have to be made in between these main applications. To monitor mole cricket activity pour a solution of lemon scented dish detergent on suspected areas of turf. If mole crickets are there they will emerge within a few minutes. Acephate is $19.50 for a 1 pound container that treats up to 12,000 square feet.
Order Acephate for treating your lawn for mole crickets.
Treating With Talstar For Mole Crickets
Talstar is a synthetic pyrethroid that is available in both granular and liquid concentrate forms. When label instructions are followed, it is very safe towards non-target animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals. Talstar lasts much longer than Acephate. We have had many reported cases of Talstar controlling mole crickets for up to two months, ants and fire ants for three months!
Only 1 or 2 applications are needed each year. No special site preparation is needed when treating for mole crickets with Talstar. Talstar is very effective in controlling ants, fleas, chinch bugs and other turf and ornamental pests.Using Talstar Granules For Mole Cricket and Chinch Bug Control
A 25lb. bag
of Talstar is $32 and will treat up to 12,000 square feet. Talstar granules are best applied through a Granule Spreader or hand seeder. The granules are tiny enough to fall between blades of turf grass (out of sight from birds and pets), penetrating to the ground or thatch area where it belongs. Because of the sand pebble sized granules, regular drop spreaders and rotary spreaders that are pushed or pulled do not give the precise coverage necessary.Talstar EZ (with larger particle size) is also available. Each 25 Lb. bag will cover the same area as Talstar PL and costs $35, plus shipping.
Order Talstar granules to treat your lawn for mole crickets.
Using Talstar Liquid Concentrate For Mole Cricket Control and Chinch Bug Control
A pint of Talstar liquid concentrate is $49 and will treat 16,000 to 20,000 square feet, when spraying for mole crickets and
chinch bugs This liquid concentrate is also available in a quart which is only $69. No special preparation of the lawn is necessary. Simply apply Talstar concentrate at the rate of 1 ounce per thousand square feet of turf, using your hose end sprayer. The label rate for killing ants with Talstar liquid is only 1/2 ounce per thousand square feet. We have seen this product control ants for three months, at the rate of only 1/4 ounce per thousand square feet!Order Talstar liquid concentrate for treating for mole crickets.
Professional Pest
Control Products of Pensacola
6920 Pine Forest Road
Pensacola, Florida 32526
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