Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Gryllotalpidae Members: NC Records

Neocurtilla hexadactyla (Perty, 1832) - Northern Mole Cricket

Taxonomy
Family: Gryllotalpidae Subfamily: Gryllotalpinae Tribe: NeocurtilliniSynonym: Gryllotalpa hexadactyla
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google ImagesSINA 351a.htm                                                                                  
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of very low-pitched croaking chirps.
Recording playback at normal speed.

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Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Apart from observations of dispersing individuals seen at lights, our records come almost entirely from low, wet areas, including lake and river shorelines, Longleaf Pine Savannas and Sandhill Seeps, and from wet old fields. Most of these represent open, herbaceous habitats but we also have a few from seepage areas under closed canopy forests (usually close to an edge).
Diet:
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology:
See also Habitat Account for General Wet Meadows
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5
State Protection:
Comments:

Image Gallery for Neocurtilla hexadactyla - Northern Mole Cricket

Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Sally Gewalt, Becky Elkin
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Z. Hull
Gaston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Stanly Co.
Comment: found dead on trail
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Calling from a low area in a grassy field; 88 degrees F (= 31 C)		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Came to a sheet set up on a dry knoll for moth sampling; flew several times up onto the sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Heard singing in an old field on low ground		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: SBW, FKW
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW - Canal Rd.

MP3 Gallery for Neocurtilla hexadactyla - Northern Mole Cricket

1 Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Sally Gewalt, Becky Elkin
Dare Co.
2021-12-04
Time 12:45 PM. Air temperature ca. 68-70 F after a cool (high 40's to mid-50's F) night. Singing at a very slow rate due to the cold.		2 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2021-10-05
3:01 pm, 82 F
3 Recorded by: John Petranka
Alleghany Co.
2021-08-10
4 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Scotland Co.
2020-09-24
76 F, dominant frequency 1.8 Hz, 3 chirps per second, along the periphery of Scotland Lake
5 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Columbus Co.
2019-12-10
Two (about 20 m apart) calling from the muddy shore of Lake Waccamaw just a foot from the water's edge. Roughly 65F, 5 pm. I believe I could see one cricket plowing in the mud surface through binoculars.