mole cricket

Dark brown burrowing insect about 35–50 mm/1.5–2 in long, covered with soft hairs. Over 50 species of mole crickets have been identified. They feed mainly on worms and other insects.

Mole crickets are particularly adapted for burrowing, the first pair of legs being large, flattened, and serrated for digging. The eyes are reduced, and the ovipositor (egg-laying organ) is vestigial. Some species have wings, which they use to fly at night. Other species have vestigial wings or the wings may be lacking.

Occasionally mole crickets may attack crops: for example the Puerto Rico mole cricket Scapteriscus vicinus is a serious pest.

Classification Mole crickets are members of family Gryllotalpidae, order Orthoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.