Does the presence of prey reduce damage to turfgrass by mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)?

The omnivorous species of mole crickets, Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder and S. borellii Giglio-Tos, are two of more destructive pests of turfgrass in the southeastern U.S. Unlike strict herbivores, their impact on the host plants could change as the omnivores shift between consumption of plants and consumption of prey. Here we investigated the effect of the presence and absence of prey on mole cricket damage to turfgrass using top growth and root growth assessments of bermudagrass. The findings may be useful in integrated pest management strategies.