Behavioral responses of pest mole crickets, Neoscapteriscus spp. (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), to selected insecticides

Abstract

Mole crickets (Neoscapteriscus spp.) consume turfgrasses and pasture grasses and uproot plants by their tunneling, which is detrimental to turf aesthetics and decreases forage quantity and quality. Insecticides are frequently used to prevent damage. In typical field trials, damage symptoms, not percent mortality or achieved level of control, are used to assess treatment efficacy. Here, however, laboratory tests assessed the direct effect of key insecticides on Neoscapteriscus mole cricket behavior. Mole crickets, Neoscapteriscus spp., were able to detect and avoid areas treated with fipronil [formulated product (FP)] and imidacloprid (FP). They tunneled less in sand treated with fipronil and avoided sand treated with fipronil and imidacloprid if given a choice. Mole crickets escaped areas treated with acephate, bifenthrin and fipronil. Bifenthrin and acephate caused increased tunneling during the first 90 min of observation. Fipronil and imidacloprid significantly reduced overall tunneling on treated areas. Tested insecticides elicited two types of behavioral changes in Neoscapteriscus mole crickets: increased locomotory activity and tunneling [acephate (organophosphate) and bifenthrin (pyrethroid)] and reduced spatial movement [fipronil (phenylpyrazole) and imidacloprid (neonicotinoid)]. These behavioral responses resulted mainly from contact chemoreception and inherent neurotoxicity of the chemicals on Neoscapteriscus mole crickets. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.