Mole-cricket
EN

Mole-cricket

Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllotalpa_gryllotalpa

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The European mole-cricket faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that eliminate the moist, organic-rich soils it requires for burrowing and reproduction. Widespread use of pesticides and soil compaction from heavy machinery directly kills individuals and destroys their underground tunnel systems. Urban development and drainage of wetlands have fragmented remaining suitable habitats, while climate change is altering soil moisture patterns critical for their survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

European mole-crickets inhabit moist, loose soils near water bodies including riverbanks, pond margins, and damp meadows where they construct extensive underground burrow systems. They prefer areas with high organic content and soft substrate that allows for easy tunneling, typically found in floodplains, marshes, and traditionally managed agricultural lands.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Threatened in Afghanistan

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
small mallowVU

small mallow

Malva pusilla

Unknown
Tiger SawgillCR

Tiger Sawgill

Lentinus tigrinus

Unknown
EN

Malus komarovii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mole-cricket classified as Endangered?
Mole-cricket is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The European mole-cricket faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices that eliminate the moist, organic-rich soils it requires for burrowing and reproduction. Widespread use of pesticides and soil compaction from heavy machinery directly kills individuals and destroys their underground tunnel systems. Urban development and drainage of wetlands have fragmented remaining suitable habitats, while climate change is altering soil moisture patterns critical for their survival.
Where does Mole-cricket live?
Mole-cricket occurs in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, and Belarus (plus 55 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Mole-cricket?
The main threats to Mole-cricket are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.