Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) and Their Biological Control

Mole crickets are strange creatures, highly adapted for a subterranean existence, including the development of their forelegs for digging. They are currently classified into two tribes, Gryllotalpini and Scapteriscini, although some taxonomists consider these to be subfamilies, Gryllotalpinae and Scapteriscinae. Adult of most species are long-winged and capable of flight, but in some species the adults are brachypterous and flightless. Within some species there are populations having long-winged adults and populations with brachypterous adults. The trochanter of each foreleg bears a long blade. The medial (inner) side of the tibia of each foreleg bears a tympanum (hearing organ). The tibia of each foreleg also bears a line of (in Gryllotalpini) four, or (in Scapteriscini) three or two large, fixed (immobile) dactyls (claws). There also are mobile tarsal dactyls. Each forewing of males bears a harp-shaped cell and a stridulatory file of minute pegs; these structures are used to produce...