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mole cricket
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Mole cricket
Mole cricket An adult mole cricket (Gryllotalpa species) on a leaf.

mole cricket

insect
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Also known as: Gryllotalpidae
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mole cricket, (family Gryllotalpidae), any of about 65 species of orthopteran insects so named for their molelike appearance and underground habits. The mole cricket has forelegs modified for shovelling, a cylindrical body, a pointed head, and a velvety coat of hairlike setae. It burrows into moist soil to depths of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches), feeding on roots. Some species are considered pests, and sufficient numbers of them can injure crops, turf, and gardens.

Taxonomy

See also list of insects.

Grasshoppers vs. crickets: What's the difference?
Grasshoppers vs. crickets: What's the difference? One makes music. One gives advice in Pinocchio. Which is which?
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The mole cricket has wings and may leave its burrow at night. The male mole cricket’s song is deep-toned and regularly repeated. The female lacks a long ovipositor for egg-laying. Eggs are placed in underground chambers that sometimes include plant material, which serves as food for newly hatched nymphs. Unlike most insects, one European mole cricket species (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa) guards its eggs and young. The Puerto Rico mole cricket (Scapteriscus vicinus), also known as a changa, can be a serious pest.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.