How to Get Rid of Mole Crickets in Your Lawn

What Are Mole Crickets?

Mole crickets are soil-dwelling insects with strong front legs made for digging. Their bodies look somewhat like regular crickets, but their front legs resemble small shovels. This makes them excellent tunnelers.

Most homeowners do not notice the insect first. They notice the lawn damage: soft turf, raised tunnels, thinning grass, brown spots, or areas where the grass pulls up too easily.

Mole crickets are especially common in warm regions where turfgrass stays active for much of the year. They are mostly an outdoor lawn pest, not a typical indoor cricket problem.

Signs of Mole Cricket Damage

Mole cricket damage can look similar to other lawn problems, so it is important to look for several signs together.

• Brown or yellow patches in the lawn
• Thin or weak turf
• Small raised tunnels near the soil surface
• Loose grass that pulls up easily
• Soft or spongy areas underfoot
• Bare patches that slowly expand
• Birds, raccoons, or armadillos digging in the lawn
• More visible damage after rain or irrigation

If animals are digging up your lawn, they may be searching for mole crickets or other soil insects. In many cases, the digging is a symptom of an insect problem already happening below the surface.

Mole Crickets vs Regular Crickets

Mole crickets need a different control strategy than house crickets, camel crickets, or field crickets. Sticky traps and indoor sprays may help with crickets inside the home, but they will not solve an underground mole cricket problem in the lawn.

How to Confirm Mole Crickets With a Soapy Water Test

Before treating your lawn, confirm that mole crickets are actually present. A simple soapy-water flush can bring mole crickets to the surface.

How to do the test

1. Choose a damaged or suspicious area of lawn.
2. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap with 1 to 2 gallons of water.
3. Slowly pour the mixture over a small section of turf.
4. Watch the area for several minutes.
5. Look for mole crickets or other insects coming to the surface.

If mole crickets appear, you have a stronger reason to treat that area. If nothing comes up, test another damaged spot. Lawn damage can have several causes, including drought, grubs, disease, poor drainage, or soil compaction.

Best Time to Treat Mole Crickets

Timing is one of the most important parts of mole cricket control. Treatments usually work better when mole crickets are young, small, and active close to the soil surface.

Adult mole crickets are harder to manage because they can move deeper into the soil. Young nymphs are usually more vulnerable, especially when they are feeding near the surface.

5 Best Products for Mole Cricket Control

Not every lawn insect product is designed for mole crickets. The five options below are labeled for lawn pest use and cover different situations — from fast-acting granules to biological control to professional-grade concentrates.

1. Ortho BugClear Lawn Insect Killer (Granules)

Ortho BugClear granules are one of the most purchased lawn insect products on Amazon — and one of the most accessible for first-time DIY users. The granular format is simple: spread with a broadcast spreader, water in lightly to activate, and the product goes to work in the soil.

The formula kills mole crickets as well as grubs, ants, spiders, ticks, and other lawn insects. One bag treats up to 10,000 sq ft, making it practical for average suburban yards. The granules are designed for above-ground and below-ground insects, which is the key requirement for mole cricket control.

Apply in early to mid-summer when nymphs are active near the surface. Water the lawn lightly before applying to bring mole crickets closer to the top, and water in again after application to help the product penetrate the soil.

Best for: Homeowners treating an active mole cricket infestation for the first time. Simple setup, no mixing required.

2. Spectracide Large Plot Triazicide Insect Killer (1 Gallon Concentrate)

Spectracide Triazicide in the large-plot concentrate format is designed for homeowners with bigger yards or recurring annual pest pressure. One gallon of concentrate mixes with water and applies by hose-end sprayer or tank sprayer, covering significantly more area than a standard bag of granules.

The active ingredient targets lawn insects at and below the surface, including mole crickets, chinch bugs, sod webworms, and grubs. The liquid format penetrates soil faster than granules when watered in correctly — useful when you need results quickly or when the lawn is already under stress.

Apply in late spring or early summer, targeting known problem areas first. Water the lawn lightly before application to activate mole cricket movement toward the surface.

Best for: Larger yards (5,000+ sq ft), recurring annual mole cricket problems, or homeowners who already own a sprayer.

3. Atticus Talak 7.9% Bifenthrin Insect Control Concentrate (32 oz)

Atticus Talak contains bifenthrin at 7.9% concentration — the same active ingredient used by professional lawn care services. Bifenthrin is a synthetic pyrethroid with proven efficacy against mole crickets, and its residual effect in the soil means one application continues working for weeks.

The 32 oz concentrate mixes with water for tank sprayer application. It covers both the soil surface and subsurface zones where mole crickets tunnel, making it effective even when adults have moved deeper. Apply around the perimeter of the home and over active turf areas.

Bifenthrin is odorless once applied and dries clear. It is safe for use around lawns when applied according to label directions and after the treated area has fully dried. Avoid spraying near water features, flowering plants, or bee activity areas — bifenthrin is toxic to aquatic life and pollinators during application.

Best for: Severe or recurring infestations, large turf areas, homeowners who want professional-grade results without hiring a service.

4. NaturesGoodGuys Beneficial Nematodes Triple Blend (25 Million)

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic roundworms that live in soil and parasitize insect larvae and nymphs — including mole crickets. Unlike chemical insecticides, they are completely safe for pets, children, earthworms, and beneficial soil insects.

The NaturesGoodGuys Triple Blend combines three nematode species (Hb, Sc, Sf) for broader coverage across different soil-dwelling pests. Apply to moist soil in the evening or on a cloudy day — nematodes are sensitive to UV light and need moisture to move through the soil toward their targets.

Results are slower than chemical treatments — expect 2-4 weeks for population reduction. Nematodes work best when mole cricket nymphs are still young (early to mid-summer) and when the soil stays consistently moist for several days after application.

Best for: Households with pets and young children, organic lawn care, or as a preventive biological treatment at the start of mole cricket season.

5. Sevin Garden Perimeter Insect Granules (3 lb)

Sevin (carbaryl) is one of the oldest and most well-documented lawn insecticides in the US. The granular perimeter format is designed for broadcast application around the home’s foundation, garden borders, and lawn edges — the transition zones where mole crickets are often most active as they migrate from lawn areas toward soil near structures.

Carbaryl works by direct contact and ingestion, and it is effective against mole crickets when applied to moist soil in the evening when insects are near the surface. The 3 lb bag covers smaller treatment areas and is best used as a targeted perimeter treatment or spot treatment rather than whole-lawn broadcast.

Best for: Perimeter and border treatment, spot treating specific tunneling areas, or as a secondary treatment alongside a whole-lawn product.

Which Product Should You Choose?

How to Get Rid of Mole Crickets Step by Step

1. Improve Lawn Health First

A dense, healthy lawn can tolerate some insect activity better than weak or stressed turf. Mole cricket damage often looks worse when grass is already thin, overwatered, cut too short, or growing in poor soil.

• Mow at the recommended height for your grass type.
• Avoid scalping the lawn.
• Water deeply, but not too often.
• Fix drainage problems and low wet spots.
• Reduce excessive thatch if needed.
• Fertilize according to your lawn type and local soil needs.
• Repair bare patches after active mole cricket pressure is reduced.

Do not assume that every brown patch needs more water. When mole crickets damage the roots, grass may look dry because it cannot take up moisture properly.

2. Reduce Excess Moisture

Mole crickets often do well in moist soil. You do not need to dry out your lawn completely, but constant moisture can make the area more inviting.

Check for:

• Sprinklers running too frequently
• Downspouts draining into the same lawn area
• Low spots that hold water
• Heavy shade with poor airflow
• Overwatering after fertilizing

A better watering schedule helps your grass recover while making the soil less favorable for tunneling pests.

3. Apply Your Chosen Product at the Right Time

Timing matters more than product choice for mole cricket control. Apply in early to mid-summer when nymphs are young and feeding close to the surface. Water the lawn lightly beforehand to bring insects up. Apply in the late afternoon or evening when mole crickets are most active.

For granular products: spread evenly with a broadcast spreader, then water in lightly. For liquid concentrates (Triazicide, Talak): mix to label rate, apply by sprayer, water in afterward.

4. Repair Lawn Damage After Control

After mole cricket activity is reduced, the lawn still needs time and care to recover. If the roots were damaged, the grass may not fill in on its own.

You may need to:

• Rake out loose or dead grass.
• Level small tunnel areas.
• Add topsoil to bare patches.
• Reseed or patch with sod where needed.
• Adjust irrigation to avoid overwatering.
• Feed the lawn according to your grass type.

Do not reseed too early if mole cricket activity is still high. New grass can be damaged quickly if the insects are still feeding underground.

Natural Ways to Reduce Mole Cricket Activity

Natural methods can help reduce pressure, especially when activity is light or you are using them as part of a prevention plan. They are usually not enough for a severe infestation, but they can support healthier lawn management.

• Keep the lawn dense and properly mowed.
• Avoid overwatering.
• Improve drainage in wet areas.
• Use beneficial nematodes where appropriate.
• Monitor problem areas with soapy-water tests.
• Repair bare patches before weeds take over.
• Reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting near problem areas.

Some homeowners try vinegar, essential oils, or homemade sprays. These may create short-term disturbance in small spots, but they are not reliable enough for serious mole cricket damage across a lawn.

When to Call a Professional

Call a professional pest control or lawn care service if the problem keeps coming back or you are not sure what is damaging your lawn.

Professional help is especially useful when:

• Brown patches are spreading quickly.
• You confirm mole crickets in several lawn areas.
• The same damage returns every year.
• Animals are digging up large sections of turf.
• DIY treatments are not working.
• You are unsure whether the problem is mole crickets, grubs, fungus, or irrigation stress.

How to Prevent Mole Crickets From Coming Back

Once mole crickets have damaged a lawn, the same areas may be vulnerable again. Prevention is mostly about early monitoring and keeping the lawn healthy enough to recover.

• Check old problem areas in spring.
• Use a soapy-water test before major damage appears.
• Avoid keeping the soil constantly wet.
• Mow at the right height for your grass type.
• Keep turf dense and healthy.
• Repair bare spots quickly.
• Use targeted treatment only when activity is confirmed.
• Keep notes on when and where damage appears.

If you had a serious mole cricket problem last year, do not wait until the lawn is badly damaged again. Start checking earlier in the season.

FAQ About Mole Crickets

Are mole crickets dangerous to humans?

Mole crickets are not considered dangerous to humans. They may look intimidating because of their large digging legs, but the main problem is lawn and root damage.

Do mole crickets bite?

Mole crickets are not aggressive toward people. They may pinch or scratch if handled, but they are not a biting pest like mosquitoes, fleas, or bed bugs.

What attracts mole crickets to a lawn?

Mole crickets are attracted to suitable soil, turfgrass roots, moisture, and areas where they can tunnel easily. Warm climates and irrigated lawns may support more activity.

Will regular cricket traps work for mole crickets?

Usually no. Sticky traps can help with crickets inside the house, but mole crickets live underground. Lawn monitoring and soil-level treatment are more relevant.

Can mole crickets destroy a lawn?

Heavy mole cricket activity can cause serious thinning, brown patches, and bare areas. Damage may become worse when birds or other animals dig up the lawn while searching for insects.

What is the fastest way to check for mole crickets?

The fastest DIY test is a soapy-water flush. Pour a mild soap-and-water mixture over a small damaged area and watch for mole crickets coming to the surface.

Should I treat the whole lawn?

Not always. If activity is limited, spot treatment may be enough. If mole crickets appear in several areas or return every year, a broader lawn plan or professional treatment may be needed.

Which product is safest around pets and children?

Beneficial nematodes are the safest option — no chemicals, no required waiting period. For chemical products, wait until the treated area is fully dry before allowing pets or children back on the lawn.

When is the best time of year to treat for mole crickets?

Early to mid-summer, when young nymphs are active close to the soil surface. This is when all treatment types — granules, concentrates, and nematodes — work most effectively.

Final Thoughts

Mole crickets are different from ordinary crickets because the main damage happens underground. If your lawn has brown patches, loose turf, small tunnels, or repeated animal digging, confirm the problem first with a simple soapy-water test before buying any product.

Once confirmed, match the treatment to your situation. For most homeowners treating an active infestation for the first time, Ortho BugClear granules are the simplest starting point. For larger yards or recurring annual problems, Atticus Talak bifenthrin concentrate gives professional-level residual control. For households with pets or a preference for chemical-free lawn care, beneficial nematodes are the safest option.

Timing matters more than product choice. Treat in early to mid-summer, water the lawn before application, and apply in the late afternoon or evening when mole crickets are most active near the surface.

If DIY treatments aren’t resolving the damage after 2-3 weeks, the infestation may be larger or deeper than surface products can reach — or the problem may not be mole crickets at all. A professional can confirm the pest, identify the species, and apply soil-level treatments not available to homeowners: get free lawn pest control quotes via Angi → (free, no obligation, takes about 60 seconds).