How can mole crickets damage turf, and what is a typical management approach?

How can mole crickets damage turf, and what is a typical management approach?

• A. They chew roots and create tunneling damage; management includes targeted insecticides at peak activity, irrigation, and, where feasible, physical or cultural controls.
• B. They feed on leaf blades, causing cosmetic burn.
• C. They only affect soil moisture but do not damage roots.
• D. They can be controlled by mowing lower.

Answer: (A)

Mole crickets damage turf by feeding on roots and tunneling through the soil, which disrupts the root zone and creates weak, patchy areas in the turf. Because the damage is rooted in their underground activity and tends to occur during specific times of the year, management is most effective when it targets their peak activity with a combination of strategies. Use targeted insecticides applied when the crickets are most active to suppress the population, and employ irrigation to move the product into the root zone and align with cricket exposure. When feasible, add physical or cultural controls to reduce favorable conditions and enhance suppression. This multi-pronged, timing-based approach reflects how mole crickets cause injury and how best to manage them, rather than focusing on leaf damage, moisture effects alone, or mowing adjustments.

Mole crickets damage turf by feeding on roots and tunneling through the soil, which disrupts the root zone and creates weak, patchy areas in the turf. Because the damage is rooted in their underground activity and tends to occur during specific times of the year, management is most effective when it targets their peak activity with a combination of strategies. Use targeted insecticides applied when the crickets are most active to suppress the population, and employ irrigation to move the product into the root zone and align with cricket exposure. When feasible, add physical or cultural controls to reduce favorable conditions and enhance suppression. This multi-pronged, timing-based approach reflects how mole crickets cause injury and how best to manage them, rather than focusing on leaf damage, moisture effects alone, or mowing adjustments.