DorothyJ Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Can anyone please tell me what this insect is. We have holes all over our lawns and grass paths. The holes are between 15mm to 20mm dia. and at least 150mm deep although I haven't tried poking anything longer down them. The insect comes out head first and if startled reverses back down. It has 6 legs, the 2 hind legs are longer than the front and middle ones and its a dark brown colour. We have had them for several years but they now seem to be multiplying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Crickets, dung beetles, the dreadful brown cokedupchafer?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorothyJ Posted May 2, 2011 Author Share Posted May 2, 2011 Thankyou for that I have re-looked at the cricket and identified it as a mole cricket. No wonder our lawns and paths have loads of bare patches as they are root eating insects. Anyone know how to get rid of them please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 You mean the Daarzet mole cricket, my dear? 'Im wiz big teef wat can strip a lawn in ten minutes? Little 'uggers they are too. We used to put 'em in grockels sandwiches and listen as they praised Daarset potted meats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Plenty on the net about them. It seems they are resistant to most of the usual pesticides. Have a look here http://www.bugsaway.com/mole_crickets.htm . Nasty looking beggers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 They damage roots rather than nourish themselves with them while hunting for insects, worms and I hope "vers gris" left by "cousins". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorothyJ Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 Naaaah not the Daarzet mole cricket ze méchant scarabée qui a fait des grands trous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorothyJ Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 Thankyou Jay for the article. One suggestion was to water an area with diluted washing-up liquid, so Pete was able to tread on 3 of them. I had tried to drown them with the hose down the holes but that didn't work, just flooded the lawn, so I think we might resort to the w/up liquid and eliminate as many as we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I've got the same beetle problem but not on a large scale. I usually kill off the dandelions with boiling water so may try the same method down the beetle holes and see what happens!Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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