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Common Mole Cricket
Gryllotalpa pluvialis
Biology
Common Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa pluvialis)
The Common Mole Cricket lives in permanent burrows in the soil, feeding on plant roots. It is common in compost heaps in coastal Queensland and New South Wales and is often attracted to lights.
Males sing with a continuous, low trilling from their burrows at dusk; the special shape of the burrow entrance is designed to amplify the song.
Identification
Length about 30 mm. The forelegs are broad and shovel-like and designed for digging and the hindlegs are short and not used for jumping.
The body is elongated and cylindrical with a shiny, dark reddish-brown thorax.
The Common Mole Cricket belongs to the Family Gryllotalpidae which contains only 12 named species in Australia.
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