Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly considered a subfamily (Gryllotalpinae) within the cricket family Gryllidae
Explanation of Names
Author of family is Fieber, 1852. From genus
Gryllotalpa, itself New Latin, from Latin
gryllus a cricket, plus
talpa, mole
(1).
Numbers
Arnett
(2) lists seven species.
Nearctica.com lists three genera and seven species:
Gryllotalpa (3 species),
Neocurtilla (1 species),
Scapteriscus (3 species).
Of the 10 species listed on
this page, 3 species do not currently occur in the continental United States:
Gryllotalpa orientalis is found in Hawaii, and
Scapteriscus didactylus and
S. imitatus are found in Puerto Rico. These areas are currently (March 2008) outside the geographic range covered by BugGuide.
Here's a list of Gryllotalpidae known from the USA, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Distribution data is available for each species from the
Mole Cricket Knowledgebase.
Genus Gryllotalpa Latreille, 1804
G. cultriger Uhler, 1864
G. gryllotalpa (Linnaeus, 1758)
G. major Saussure, 1874
G. orientalis Burmeister, 1838
Genus Neocurtilla Kirby, 1906
N. hexadactyla (Perty, 1832)
Genus Scapteriscus Scudder, 1868
S. abbreviatus Scudder, 1869
S. borellii Giglio-Tos, 1869
S. didactylus (Latreille, 1804)
S. imitatus Nickle & Castner, 1984
S. vicinus Scudder, 1869
… Sam W. Heads, 29 March, 2008
Size
body length 20 mm or greater
Identification
Fairly large burrowing orthopterans. Characteristics:
front legs broad, modified for digging, have large "claws"
hind legs not enlarged for jumping (compare Tridactylidae, which have enlarged hind legs)
all tarsi with three segments (formula 3-3-3)
tympana at base of front tibiae
antennae less than half body length
ovipositor variable
Key genera based on structure of forelegs. See
Singing Insects of North America pages:
key to genera, and
photo comparing genera, and the different species of
Scapteriscus.
In overall appearance, compare these widespread members of two genera:
Left. Northern Mole Cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla) has brownish pronotum, which forms a bit of a hood over head, and short wings.
Right. Southern Mole Cricket (Scapteriscus borellii) has longer wings, grayish pronotum (apparently usually with spots), and pronotum does not form hood over head.
Habitat
fossorial (digging), nocturnal
See Also
superficially similar but unrelated
Tridactylidae - Pygmy Mole 'Crickets' (suborder Caelifera)
Print References
The Century Dictionary--entry for
Gryllotalpa (1)
Capinera, p. 212, plate 47
(3)
Internet References
family account and
key to genera (Singing Insects of North America)
classification plus list of world species, synonyms, literature references (Orthoptera Species File)
