Bug FAQAfrican Molecricket
Gryllotalpa africana · Order: Orthoptera · Family: Gryllotalpidae
Also called: African Mole Cricket
Source: Wikipedia
The African mole cricket is a small, underground insect that comes to the surface at night, mainly to mate. It feeds on plant roots, larvae and other insects and is considered a pest in some regions because it can harm gardens and crops.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is a relatively small mole cricket species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are small compared with other crickets.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
It is considered a pest in some regions.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives underground in burrows and feeds on plant roots, larvae and other insects. It only comes to the surface at night, mostly during the mating season.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It is omnivorous, eating plant roots, insect larvae and other insects.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Males attract females by chirping.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults surface at night mainly during the mating season.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Africa and also occurs in parts of Asia and southern Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Is the African mole cricket a pest?
Yes, it is considered a pest in some regions because it feeds on plant roots and can damage gardens.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the African mole cricket eat?
It eats plant roots, insect larvae and other insects, being omnivorous.
Source: Wikipedia
When does it come out of its burrow?
It comes to the surface at night, mainly during the mating season.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Gryllotalpidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllotalpa_africana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.