Foreign mole crickets cause serious damage to bahiagrass pastures in Florida. There are three pest mole crickets Scapteriscus spp. found in Florida: the southern, tawny, and shortwinged mole crickets. Of these three, the tawny is the most damaging for more detailed information on these mole crickets see “Mole Crickets in Lawns” a publication of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service available at your county Cooperative Extension office or online at edis.ifas.ufl.eduLH039. In a 1998 survey by the South Florida Beef and Forage Program, 64 of cattle producers each reported approximately 290 acres of their ranch as being damaged by mole cricket infestation. At an estimated cost of $200 per acre for pasture renovation, this amounts to $3,712,000 for every 100 beef cattle producers in southcentral Florida. According to a 1997 USDA Agriculture census, there are about 1200 ranches > 500 acres in south central Florida. Therefore, total pasture renovation cost within the region is approximately $44.5 million $3,712,00 x 1200100 and renovation may be necessary every 45 years. Additional loss in revenue incurred from reductions in forage and hay production as a result of mole cricket damage is about $44.5 million, annually, based on hay production of 4 TA and a price of $50T 290 acres x 4 TA x $50T x 1200 ranches x 0.64. While chemical control strategies can be effective, they provide only shortterm relief and may leave harmful residues in the environment.

Address: PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.
Website: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN123