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Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa (L.)
The European mole cricket

Forelimb of G. gryllotalpa
Front view of G. gryllotalpa
lateral view of G. gryllotalpa

Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa is only comparable to G. major in size and dactyl number, but is differentiated by the shape of trochantal lobe. This is a European species that was accidentally introduced into the United States around 1915-1918. The majority of collection records of G. gryllotalpa have been from the northeastern United States, namely Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, where is mainly associated with plant nurseries. The only known record in the southeastern U. S. is from Belle Glade, Florida. This species has been known to reach pest proportions in the U. S.