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Grittyville, WA

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/biology-and-control-of-mole-crickets/

I did an image search, and the internet seems to have Jerusalem crickets confused with mole crickets? They do look similar. I wonder if you will be able to find the culprits... the link above shows the smaller nymph stages. (I was curious enough to look it up.)

[Last edit: 07/22/26 7:48:25 PM]

7/22/2026 7:45:58 PM

Bethlehem CT

So here is the story of the ongoing mystery... I was describing my situation to a lady who is a landscaper/gardener. I showed her a few of my potatoes and told her what I thought was going on. She said "too me that looks like your experiencing mole cricket damage." She asked "does it make finger diameter sized tunnels?" I said "yes it does". She said "you mind if I come into the garden and have a look?, I can tell by the exit holes of their tunnels". So she came in found a bunch of tunnel exit holes. She said "that looks like mole crickets! One of my customers about a mile from here has them." (the customer had loads of compost shipped up from there other home down in Westchester county New York, where the european mole cricket have a well known presence.) The crickets are a real nuisance as they cut off young transplants at the soil line too. (which has also been a problem for me in this spot). I would ooften see a plant wilting and then go to check on it and it would be severed like a mouse ate it or a cut worm. The only diagnostic tool left for me to id the problem would be these underground tunnels leading away from the dead plant, the severed plant stem and now a hole in almost every potato! grr!

7/23/2026 7:46:14 AM

Bethlehem CT

They say you can flush them out with soapy water at night. I will have to give it a try. Also they have a unique chirp, which I have listened to on youutube.

7/23/2026 7:48:38 AM

Connecticut, USA

Wow! Image search those bad boys. Nightmare fuel.

7/23/2026 8:39:32 AM

Grittyville, WA

Yeah that sounds like a nightmare. In a perfect world maybe chickens would eat them. Something would. As for me I'd rather eat the damaged potatoes.

7/23/2026 10:09:53 AM