Mole Crickets Causing Trouble? Eagle Lawn Care Can Help
Expert Lawn Pest Control in Pinellas County Florida
Mole crickets are one of the most destructive lawn pests in the Pinellas County Florida area. These unusual, pale-colored insects burrow just below the surface of your lawn, breaking up soil and severing grass roots as they tunnel. If you're seeing uneven turf, dead patches, or strange mounds of soil, there's a good chance mole crickets are the cause.
At Eagle Lawn Care and Pest Control, we specialize in identifying and eliminating mole crickets from residential and commercial lawns across Pinellas County Florida. Call us today at 727-953-8180 to get expert help fast.
What Are Mole Crickets?
Mole crickets are distinctive-looking insects with large front legs shaped like tiny shovels, made for digging through soil. These pests live underground and are most active at night, making them hard to spot until the damage becomes visible.
Florida is home to several species, including:
- Tawny Mole Cricket
- Southern Mole Cricket
- Short-Winged Mole Cricket
- Northern Mole Cricket
Originally from South America, these pests have spread throughout the southeastern U.S., thriving in Florida’s sandy soil and warm temperatures.
Why Mole Crickets Are a Problem for Pinellas County Lawns
Mole crickets tunnel through the top layer of soil, damaging the roots of your grass. This causes the turf to loosen, brown, and eventually die. The signs are often mistaken for drought stress or fungus, but our trained technicians know exactly what to look for.
Common signs include:
- Raised soil or tunnels
- Brown, thinning grass
- Areas that feel soft or hollow when walked on
- Visible crickets at night or during heavy rain
They’re especially drawn to Bahia, Bermuda, and St. Augustine grasses, all common in Florida lawns.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Mole crickets lay their eggs underground—usually over 100 at a time. These eggs hatch in late spring or early summer, and the nymphs grow quickly, reaching adult size by fall. Because Florida stays warm most of the year, mole crickets remain active almost year-round.
In spring, adult mole crickets often take flight at night in search of mates and new places to lay eggs. Once they find a lawn to settle in, their damage begins underground long before most homeowners notice anything wrong.
Natural Predators (and Why They Aren’t Enough)
While some animals and insects prey on mole crickets—such as birds, raccoons, armadillos, and predatory insects—these natural predators rarely control an infestation on their own. Because mole crickets live mostly underground, they’re hard to reach and reproduce too quickly for nature to keep up.
Our Approach to Mole Cricket Control
Getting rid of mole crickets takes expertise, the right products, and proper timing. At Eagle Lawn Care and Pest Control, we create custom lawn treatment plans to eliminate pests like mole crickets safely and effectively.
Our process includes:
Accurate identification
of the infestation
Targeted treatments
applied at the ideal time
Soil and turf assessments
to prevent reinfestation
Ongoing monitoring
to ensure your lawn stays pest-free
Our licensed and insured lawn care team is trained in the latest methods and products to stop mole crickets in their tracks.
Don’t Let Mole Crickets Ruin Your Lawn
If you’ve spotted odd damage or suspect mole crickets are digging up your yard, now is the time to act. Left untreated, mole crickets can strip your lawn of its healthy roots and leave behind bare soil and weeds.
Call Eagle Lawn Care and Pest Control today at 727-953-8180 for a free quote or to schedule your lawn inspection. We typically respond within 24 hours—and we’ll make sure your lawn gets back to green, thick, and healthy in no time.