Mole Cricket
(Gryllotalpa vulgaris). This insect belongs to the family Gryllidae, of the order Orthoptera, but is so different in its whole appearance from any other of our native insects, that there can be no difficulty in recognising it from the accompanying woodcut. Its colour is smoky-brown above, and yellowish-red below, with a velvety gloss on the surface. The sexes are much alike, but the females have the abdomen large, the sixth ring being broader than the others, while in the male the sixth ring is the narrowest. They reach a length of between 1 1/2in. and 2in. The popular name of "Mole Cricket" is derived from the resemblance in form of the front pair of legs to those of a mole, the legs in each being broad, flattened, very strong, and so placed as to form very efficient instruments for digging burrows, and for throwing the earth backwards. The form of the body also in both is suited to permit easy movement along the burrows. The insect prefers light, sandy, or cultivated soils, and is, therefore, partial to gardens, and avoids stiff clays. It occurs throughout Southern and Central Europe, and is common in many places in the South of Britain, but does not extend to the North. It remains so hidden in its burrows that its presence in a locality may hardly be suspected, even where common when looked for. In digging its burrows, it cuts the roots that it encounters, causing the plants to wither without evident cause. The female makes a nest underground, and in it lays from 200 to 400 eggs; when the larvae emerge, she watches over them till their first change of skin, after which they dig burrows for themselves. The development from the egg to the perfect state is said to require from two to three years. The metamorphosis is incomplete. Mole Crickets eat the underground parts (whether roots or stems) of many plants, e.g., Potatoes, roots of potherbs, and flowers. But their favourite food seems to be insects and worms; and this may be regarded as, to some extent, compensating for the damage done by them. They are so voracious that, when starved, they have been known to eat their own limbs. They may be caught by laying down pieces of raw meat as traps, on which the insects may be found feeding; or benzole or petroleum may be poured into their burrows to kill them, or to drive them away. Digging them out is often impracticable when they get into a flower-bed or border.