Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
African mole cricket

African mole cricket

Gryllotalpa africana

A species of Gryllotalpa

Gryllotalpa africana, also known as the African mole cricket, is a relatively small mole cricket species, native to Africa, but local populations exist in Asia, and southern Europe.

General Info About African mole cricket
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of African mole cricket
Colors
Brown
Black
Habitat
Damp area
Adult Food Sources
Roots, plant material, invertebrates, worms, fungi
Larva Food Source
Organic matter, roots, plant stems, small insects, fungi
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
Not reported
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
Not reported
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of African mole cricket
Widespread
Rectangle
Distribution Area of African mole cricket
Africa, Asia, southern Europe
Rectangle
Life Cycle of African mole cricket
Egg The eggs of african mole cricket are typically laid in soil. They are oval and well-protected by a hard shell. At this stage, the future insects are completely immobile and undergo no visible change other than growth in size as they develop internally.
Nymph Emerging from the eggs, nymphs of african mole cricket resemble miniature adults but lack fully developed wings and reproductive organs. They are more active and move through various molts, gradually increasing in size, and their coloration begins to change.
Adult The adult african mole cricket showcases fully developed wings and reproductive organs. Compared to earlier stages, the body is more robust and darker in color. The adult is fully mobile and has a pronounced head with stridulating organs for sound production involved in mating.
Rectangle
Predators of African mole cricket Larvae
Birds, rodents, beetles, ants, spiders
Rectangle
Predators of Adult African mole cricket
Birds, rodents, centipedes, spiders, larger insects
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About African mole cricket
African mole cricket can navigate underground with impressive speed, efficiently carving out tunnels in their search for plant roots and soil invertebrates to feed on.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of African mole cricket
Tips for Finding African mole cricket
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of African mole cricket
Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of African mole cricket
Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
How Can You Attract African mole cricket
Common bait or lure to trap african mole cricket includes insects, worms, or grubs as they are the natural prey or food source for african mole cricket.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of African mole cricket Through Different Life Stages
Each growth stage of african mole cricket is encountered in distinct habitats. The eggs are typically buried in moist soil near food sources. Nymphs remain underground, tunneling and feeding on roots and invertebrates, which can be found by examining soil profiles in well-watered grasslands or agricultural fields. Adults inhabit similar subterranean locations but also emerge at night, making grassy or sandy soils, gardens, and crop fields likely searching spots. Tracking adult african mole cricket by their distinctive burrowing sounds or mounded soil entrances during their nocturnal activities enhances location success.
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe African mole cricket
The most suitable time to find african mole cricket is usually at dusk or during the night as african mole cricket are nocturnal creatures that are most active during these times.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe African mole cricket
Moist soil conditions after rainfall are ideal as african mole cricket prefer damp environments. This weather condition will increase the likelihood of finding african mole cricket closer to the surface.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find African mole cricket at Different Life Stages
Nymph African mole cricket nymphs can be located near the surface of the soil, especially after rain when the ground is moist. Sifting through the top layer of soil in gardens or fields can reveal their presence.
Adult To find adult african mole cricket, one should look in the garden late at night by softly digging around plants and listening for their distinctive chirping sound. Adult african mole cricket also create characteristic mounds and tunnels near the surface, which can lead to their discovery.
Are African mole cricket harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Harmful Effects of African mole cricket
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Agricultural Pests

African mole cricket nymphs are subterranean pests that feed on the roots and stems of a wide array of crops, leading to reduced nutrient uptake and weakened plant structures. Mild infestations might only stunt growth, but severe cases can cause widespread plant death, threatening crop yields and potentially impacting food supply and prices.

Rectangle
Hurt Plant

African mole cricket significantly impacts various plants by chewing on roots, stems, and leaves. This non-discriminatory feeding can result in stunted growth, reduced yield, and plant death, presenting a varying threat from mild to severe.

More Effects of African mole cricket

Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to African mole cricket
Southern mole cricket
Southern mole cricket

The southern mole cricket (Neoscapteriscus borellii) is identified with its brown to a somewhat pink color palette. It also has four pale spots on its body. Contrary to some crickets, this one is primarily carnivorous. Otherwise, it is differentiated from the Northern mole cricket with a higher-pitched, faster chirp.

Read More
Arrow
Tawny mole cricket
Tawny mole cricket

N. vicinus is a medium-sized mole cricket. Members of this genus are characterized by having two sharp claws and a blade-like process with a sharp edge on their fore legs. Other mole crickets have three or four claws. Its colour is yellowish-brown with a dark prothorax. It can be differentiated from the rather similar Neoscapteriscus borellii by the two claws that are almost touching at the base, whereas in N. borellii, they are widely separated. The song of N.vicinus, produced only by the males, is a loud trill with a frequency of 130 Hz.

Read More
Arrow
Northern Mole Cricket
Northern Mole Cricket

The northern Mole Cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla) is a unique cricket that spends its life living and raising its young underground. It does this by having front feet that look similar to what you would expect from a mole. It is considered a pest that can destroy the lawns of areas they invade.

Read More
Arrow
European mole cricket
European mole cricket

With formidable front limbs adapted for burrowing, european mole cricket vanishes beneath the earth, navigating subterranean realms with ease. This creature, equipped with sensitive auditory organs, detects even the subtlest vibrations, foreshadowing its predatory success. Omnivorous by nature, it favors a diet laced with plant material and invertebrates. As night's shroud descends, it emerges to weave through the moonlit tapestry of grasses, ever in search of sustenance.

Read More
Arrow
Australian mole cricket
Australian mole cricket

Gryllotalpa australis is a right-winged insect from the cricket family (Gryllotalpidae). The scientific name of this species was first validly published in 1842 by Erichson.

Read More
Arrow
Oriental mole cricket
Oriental mole cricket

Gryllotalpa orientalis is a species of mole cricket in the family Gryllotalpidae, commonly known as the oriental mole cricket. It is found in much of Asia and Australasia. At one time, this species was misidentified as G. africana and thought to have a widespread distribution in both Africa and Asia, but in the 1980s, G. orientalis was recognised as a separate species. It is a polyphagous pest, damaging crops by gnawing their roots.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow