European Mole Cricket
Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa
This record describes Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (species). Recorded family: Gryllotalpidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Brown, covered with velvety hair. Front legs modified for digging. Females lack the external ovipositor of other crickets. Introduced from Europe. It reached pest proportions in the 1910s
Wikipedia reference for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllotalpa_gryllotalpa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Gryllotalpidae (Mole Crickets)
- Genus
- Gryllotalpa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Europe; in the U.S. recorded roughly from Massachusetts to New York & eastern New Jersey, and also from Belle Glade, Florida. Many of these records seem to represent populations that have not persisted to today. Currently known to be well established only in Westchester Co., NY, and adjacent CT.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: This cricket feeds at night by tunneling the upper 1-2" of the soil; feeding on seedlings, roots and stems cutting them off above the ground, also eats the seeds.
Life History
Eggs are laid in underground chambers.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: gryll - cricket talpa - mole
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of European Mole Cricket (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , metrioptera , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About European Mole Cricket
What is European Mole Cricket?
European Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa) is a species in the family Gryllotalpidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is European Mole Cricket?
36-46 mm
How do you identify European Mole Cricket?
Brown, covered with velvety hair. Front legs modified for digging. Females lack the external ovipositor of other crickets.
Where is European Mole Cricket found?
Range: Europe; in the U.S. recorded roughly from Massachusetts to New York & eastern New Jersey, and also from Belle Glade, Florida. Many of these records seem to represent populations that have not persisted to today. Currently known to be well established only in Westchester Co., NY, and adjacent CT.
What does European Mole Cricket eat?
The diet of the European Mole Cricket includes This cricket feeds at night by tunneling the upper 1-2" of the soil; feeding on seedlings, roots and stems cutting them off above the ground, also eats the seeds..
What is the life cycle of a European Mole Cricket?
Eggs are laid in underground chambers.