Press
A woman discovers a rare mole cricket at the train station. However, the insect is less pleasing for amateur gardeners.
Munich – In the Facebook community of forensic biologist Dr. Mark Benecke, users regularly share their unusual discoveries. These include rare animals, unusual skeleton finds and even stones and fossils. A woman shared a photo of a large cricket with small shovels on its front legs and an armored front body.
Woman finds “cross between a cricket and a lobster” – community knows immediately
The woman reported: “When I was standing at the train station yesterday, I came across this insect. I’ve never seen anything like it before, what is it? It was about three to four centimeters long and to me it looks like a cross between a cricket and a lobster.”
The community’s answer was clear: “It’s a mole cricket.” While some found the little creature interesting, it caused concern among hobby gardeners. They do not consider the mole cricket to be a useful insect in the garden – they are more concerned that it could become a nuisance.
Mole crickets can sometimes cause “significant damage”
The Bavarian State Office for Agriculture (LfL) confirmed to IPPEN.MEDIAthat the animal in the photo is a mole cricket. The LfL provides information on its websitethat mole crickets mainly appear in the months of May and June. However, Dr. Sybille Orzek, head of the LfL’s working group for diseases and pests in horticulture, explained that there are currently no increased inquiries about mole crickets.
Mole crickets are mainly found in gardens and green spaces. There they cause “significant damage through their burrowing and feeding activities,” according to the LfL website. Mole crickets are not protected in Germany, but they are in Switzerland. Due to the intense persecution, mole crickets are listed nationwide as “highly endangered.”
However, Dr. Sybille Orzek emphasized: “Mole crickets are not harmful in home and allotment gardens as they feed on soil organisms. However, if the population explodes and there is a food shortage, they can also attack plants.”
Hobby gardeners warn about mole crickets – users are reminded of children’s series
In the Facebook comments, many shared their negative experiences with the mole cricket: “Mole cricket… something you don’t want in your garden if you want to enjoy it,” wrote one user. Another commented: It “always digs holes in my soil.” And another said: “Horrible animals if you have a garden. They flatten everything.”
If you have to fight mole crickets, Dr. Orzek advises: “If there is a mass occurrence, you can also fight mole crickets with nematodes. These are offered by various pesticide companies.” She recommends to inform about the plant information system PSInfo HuK.
Some users remembered the mole cricket from the children’s series “Maya the Bee”. “So this is what a mole cricket looks like. I know it from Maya the Bee. But it’s impressive in real life,” wrote one user. Another agreed: “It made me think of Maya the Bee too, I’ve never seen her before either.”
Another rare discovery was recently reported in Germany. A deadly insect, the oil beetle, appears to be spreading in Germany. (jh)
#Hobby #gardeners #fear #damage #theyre #flattening