×
BugFinder Insects by State Spiders Butterflies & Moths Bees, Ants, & Wasps Beetles All Bugs Videos (YouTube)

Tawny Mole Cricket (Neoscapteriscus vicinus)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Tawny Mole Cricket


Loading SVG image placeholder
1/5
Image Credit: Jayme R.
Full-sized image of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket Thumbnail image of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket
2/5
Image Credit: Trisha L. in Vero Beach, FL
Full-sized image #2 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket Thumbnail image #2 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket
3/5
Image Credit: John
Full-sized image #3 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket Thumbnail image #3 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket
4/5
Image Credit: Mary F. in OK
Full-sized image #4 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket Thumbnail image #4 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket
5/5
Image Credit: Brian C. from IN
Full-sized image #5 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket Thumbnail image #5 of the Tawny-Mole-Cricket

The rich brown Tawny Mole Cricket is a burrowing nightmare for anyone trying to keep a pristine lawn or putting green.



Updated: 01/06/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
Introduced to the coastal states of the American Southeast sometime around 1900, this species of mole cricket creates problems in areas growing turf, like golf courses and football stadia. It is also a pest that damages other grasses and vegetable seedlings. Certain imported species of flies, nematodes (worms), and wasps have been used to control the Tawny Mole Cricket.

Tawny Mole Crickets are brown and have wings that are slightly longer than their bodies. Their 'shoulder' area is a medium brown mottling of color. It lacks the four spots and darker color of the Southern Mole Cricket. Their pronotum is almost circular and not egg-shaped. If a view of their digging 'fingers' (called dactyls) is possible, the Tawny Mole Cricket has no space or gap between dactyls where they attach to the 'palm'.

Tawny Mole Crickets are slow moving creatures on foot. Unlike their Southern Mole Cricket cousins, Tawny Mole Crickets do not play dead when they are captured. They can fly, however, and usually do so for about an hour at dusk. They are capable of traveling almost a mile in a day. They typically take flight from early spring through the end of summer in warmer, southern regions like Florida. They may not start flying until late spring in cooler areas in Georgia. They also 'chirp' during this time of day. For about an hour-and-a-half after sunset, this species will sound out loud trills at a rate of 130 pulses per second, which is almost three times as many as Southern Mole Crickets.

A female lays between 30-60 eggs about 10cm (4 inches) in an underground chamber. She then covers the chamber with dirt and dies before the eggs hatch. After hatching, the nymphs may eat each other before they find nearby plant roots to eat instead. Over the summer months, the nymphs molt many times and mature into adults that will overwinter and breed the next spring.©InsectIdentification.org


Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.InsectIdentification.org. It is the product of hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, educators, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at InsectIdentification AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.


General Characteristics


Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers
Flying insect icon


Taxonomic Hierarchy


Species Breakdown
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Orthoptera
        Family: Gryllotalpidae
View More
          Genus: Neoscapteriscus
View More
            Species: vicinus

Identifying Information


Size, Colors, Features
Scientific Name: Neoscapteriscus vicinus
Category: Grasshopper or Cricket
Size (Adult; Length): 25mm to 34mm (0.98" to 1.33")
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: brown
Descriptors: loud; robust; heavy; flying


Relative Size Comparison


Typical Size Between 25mm (1.0in) and 34mm (1.3in)
Lo: 25mm
Md: 29.5mm
Hi: 34mm

Territorial Map*


U.S., Canada, and Mexico
State of Alabama graphic
State of Arizona graphic
State of Arkansas graphic
State of California graphic
State of Colorado graphic
State of Delware graphic
State of Florida graphic
State of Georgia graphic
State of Idaho graphic
State of Illinois graphic
State of Indiana graphic
State of Iowa graphic
State of Kansas graphic
State of Kentucky graphic
State of Louisiana graphic
State of Maine graphic
State of Maryland graphic
State of Michigan graphic
State of Minnesota graphic
State of Mississippi graphic
State of Missouri graphic
State of Montana graphic
State of Nebraska graphic
State of Nevada graphic
State of New England graphic
State of New Jersey graphic
State of New Mexico graphic
State of New York graphic
State of North Carolina graphic
State of North Dakota graphic
State of Ohio graphic
State of Oklahoma graphic
State of Oregon graphic
State of Pennsylvania graphic
State of South Carolina graphic
State of South Dakota graphic
State of Tennessee graphic
State of Texas graphic
State of Utah graphic
State of Virginia graphic
State of Washington graphic
State of West Virginia graphic
State of Wisconsin graphic
State of Wyoming graphic
Canadian territory of Alberta graphic
Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic
Canadian territory of Manitoba graphic
Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic
Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic
Canadian territory of Ontario graphic
Canadian territory of Quebec graphic
Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic
Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico
Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic
Alaska  
Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Tawny Mole Cricket may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Tawny Mole Cricket. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.

Similar Insects



Similar insects to the Tawny Mole Cricket that are associated with or commonly mistaken for...

Site Disclaimer  |  Privacy Policy  |  Cookies  |  Sitemap
Beetle Identification Butterfly Identification Caterpillar Identification Spider ID Fungal Infections on Insects Nursery Web Spider Official State Insects Termite Basics Insect Molting Process Bugs of Tennessee House Centipede

2024 www.InsectIdentification.org • Content ©2006-2024 InsectIdentification.org • All Rights Reserved. The InsectIdentification.org logo, its written content, and watermarked photographs/imagery are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and is protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Material presented throughout this website is for entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for scientific research or medical advice (regarding bites, etc...).Please consult licensed, degreed professionals for such information. By submitting images to us (InsectIdentification.org) you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Site Disclaimer as it pertains to "User-Submitted Content". Images in JPG format are preferred with a minimum horizontal dimension of 1000px if possible. When emailing please include your location and the general estimated size of the specimen in question if possible. Please direct all inquiries and comments to insectidentification AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

©2024 www.InsectIdentification.org • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2006-2024 (18yrs)