Oklahoma State University Turfgrass Science |
Shorttailed Crickets
Life Cycle
Shorttailed crickets overwinter as nymphs in burrows in the soil. After several molts in early spring, they reach the adult stage. Mated females begin to lay eggs in late spring or early summer. Hatching takes place in a multi-chambered burrow constructed by the adult. For a short period of time, both eggs and nymphs may be found in the burrow. Between the fourth and sixth instars, nymphs leave the parent burrows and construct burrows of their own. At first the burrows are small, but as the crickets mature the burrows are enlarged and may reach depths of 12 to 20 inches. Only one cricket is found per burrow except when certain burrows contain eggs and nymphs. There is one generation per year.
Hosts
These crickets feed on grasses, weeds, and pine seedlings. The feeding damage they cause in turfgrass is apparently negligible.
Damage
In turf, burrows constructed by nymphs and adults result in unsightly mounds of small soil pellets, which may smother the surrounding grass. In Oklahoma, they are seldom noticed until the maturing nymphs begin to construct new burrows in late summer. This usually occurs in August and activity continues through October and, in some years, through most of November. The burrows are rebuilt each time they are washed away by fall rains.