Management of Pest Mole Crickets
in Florida and Puerto Rico with
a Nematode and Parasitic Wasp
N. C. Leppla, J. H. Frank and M. B. Adjei
Scapteriscus didactylus, the “West Indian mole cricket” or
“changa,” probably arrived in the West Indies by flying
from South America hundreds of years ago
Scapteriscus abbreviatus, the “short-winged mole
cricket,” occurs in Puerto Rico and a few other islands,
and probably arrived in ship ballast~ this species cannot
fly and is only a minor problem
Damage to sweet
peppers in the
Dominican Republic
caused by the “West
Indian mole cricket”
In Grenada, vegetable
seedlings are attacked by
the same mole cricket
Damage to a Florida
golf course by the
South American
mole cricket,
Scapteriscus vicinus
J.P. Parkman-UF,IFAS
Chemical Control
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www.pesticidereform.org
Mole cricket damage and
chemical pesticides for control
cost an estimated 100 million
dollars in the Southeastern US
annually
 Chemicals are too expensive for
use on pasture land
 Mole crickets rebound in most
treated areas
 Concern about non-target effects
of chemicals
Biological Control Alternative
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A two pronged approach
 Parasitic nematode Steinernema scapterisci
 Parasitic Wasp- Larra bicolor
Parasitic nematode Steinernema scapterisci
K. Nguyen - UF,IFAS
Steinernematid Life Cycle
penetration
free-living
nematodes
exit the cadaver and
are temporarily freeliving
juveniles
develop
in the
host
body
produce
eggs
sexual
maturation
Flask containing
nematodes
on diet-soaked
sponge
Application of nematodes
to pasture land
Mole Cricket State Program
Objective: To conduct research/demonstration
projects that will widely distribute the
entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema
scapterisci, in Florida; determine its
establishment, rate of spread and impact on
Scapteriscus spp. mole crickets, and support
its commercialization
Nematode applications
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Nematac S
80 billion nematodes
32 counties
Education & training
Nematode diagnostics
Nematode survey
Refined methods
Establish & Spread
Mole Cricket Nematode in Florida
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6 months- 80% mole crickets infected
1 year- infected mole crickets spread
nematodes across the pasture
3 years• 85% decline in mole crickets
• 40-95% recovery of bahiagrass
• 20-35% infected mole crickets
Biological Control of Mole Crickets in
Florida by the Nematode
80
70
2002
2001
60
2000
50
1999
40
30
20
10
0
N
ov
ct
O
p
g
Se
Au
l
Ju
n
Ju
ay
M
r
Ap
ar
M
b
Fe
Mole Cricket Nematode Project
In Puerto Rico
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Apply Nematac S in appropriate habitats
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Survey for entomopathogenic nematodes
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Adapt release and evaluation methods
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Demonstrate establishment and spread
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Determine the impact on pest mole crickets
Mole cricket
escaping from
soap solution
in its gallery at
a golf course in
Puerto Rico
A turf farm in Puerto Rico with “changas”
A palm grove next to
a 3-acre peanut field
in Puerto Rico
A 1-acre
organic farm
in Puerto Rico
Mole cricket pitfall
trap at a golf course in
Puerto Rico
Biological Control of Mole Crickets in
Puerto Rico by the Nematode
 Scapteriscus
didactylus, was trapped at the golf
course and organic garden
 Scapteriscus abbreviatus was also discovered at
the organic garden
 Mole crickets captured at the golf course
contained Steinernema scapterisci
 Steinernema scapterisci became established at
the golf course and killed S. didactylus
 Mole crickets from the organic garden were
not infected
Parasitic Wasp- Larra bicolor
Lyle Buss- UF, IFAS
Larra bicolor on Spermacoce verticillata
Lyle Buss- UF, IFAS
Biological Control of Mole Crickets in
Florida & Puerto Rico by the Wasp
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Parasitism of Scapteriscus vicinus 24% near
Gainesville, Florida
Wasp in 22 Florida counties by natural spread and
releases
Larra bicolor feeds at nectaries of 4 plants plus
Spermacoce verticillata
Spermacoce verticillata plots provided near mole
cricket infestations
Cooperators watch for wasps feeding on the flowers
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Wasp may function additively with the nematode
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Management of Pest Mole Crickets
in Florida and Puerto Rico
 Established
the nematode and wasp
 Determined that they are effective
 Provided economical mole cricket control
We have shown that biological control offers
long-term, cost effective mole cricket
management
Leppla, Frank & Adjei
Any Questions?
http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu