How to get rid of tomcat insect?

If you’re experiencing a problem with tomcat insects, also known as mole crickets, then you know how annoying and destructive they can be. Not only do these pests dig up your lawn or garden but they also destroy plant roots and devour leaves. It’s essential to get rid of them promptly before irreparable damage is done.

In this guide on “How to Get Rid of Tomcat Insect?” we will provide natural solutions that are kinder to the environment and safer for your family and pets compared to harmful pesticides. While it may take some work upfront, with patience, persistence and consistency, you’ll be able to remove these pesky critters from your property completely.

Identify The Pest

Before learning how to get rid of the tomcat insect let’s understand what characteristics define mole crickets:

  • They have large spade-like front legs that help them burrow underground.
  • Three pairs of segmented legs.
  • Long flattened wings at the side that make them look like small bats when flying in the dark.

So now that you’ve learned how their appearance, here are signs indicating their activity:

  • Small brown patches in lawns
  • Plants start dying suddenly without any apparent cause
  • Tunnels near the surface
  • Moles (although a separate species) favour places where mole crickets are present

Once identified action must commence quickly otherwise gardens suffer “mysterious” devastation. Take solace in knowing there isn’t a better time than combating an outbreak like itchy savage vikings entering foreign lands!

Natural Home Remedies

Now let us examine four home remedies which should reduce or remove an infestation.

Dish Soap And Water Treatment

Dish soap acts as a surfactant by breaking down water tension whilst sticking onto insects smothering their respiratory system eventually suffocating them within the hour.

Requirements – One to two tablespoons of dish soap, one-gallon water and a sprayer

Method:

  • Mix the ingredients
  • Spray the area where mole crickets are present.

Diametaceous Earth (DE)

Diatomaceous earth is incredibly versatile as it works not only against Tomcat but also repels other harmful insects. Essentially DE slices through their exoskeleton leading to dehydration and death in days. While this may sound brutal, rest assured that once your soil has dried out properly; diatomaceous earth becomes harmless hence considered safe for human use.

Requirements – A dusting receptacle or sprayer, Diatomaceous Powder

Methods:

1) Method 1 involves spaying generously on affected areas:

  • Sprinkle soil with liberal quantity over mole cricket runways
  • Remember to keep reapplying after rains since moisture makes it ineffective

2) Alternatively you can rapidly sprinkle DE powder directly onto areas preferred by tomcats without much preparation required:

  • Gently agitate the dust so as it settles well on surfaces used most often by moles

3) An alternative strategy when battling subsurface invasion or when rain constantly affects surface treatments is digging via tunnel systems in search of areas housing larvae development cycles:

  • Once underground devastation spotted penetrate egg sacs using injecting dispensers filled with suitable desiccants

4) Place sharp-netted bags inside exit holes/compressed tunnels.

As you can see from these methods, despite there being different options available they all aim at attacking nymphs/larvae underneath turf/grass systems which cause severe harm if left untreated.

Neem Oil Treatment

As an organic insecticide made from neem seeds, neem oil acts like nicotine poisonging pests rendering them incapacitated even leading them towards death within hours. In particular it’s useful in controlling preventable population growth infestations such as adult moles typically known to lay eggs…

Requirements: One or two tablespoons of neem oil, one-gallon water and a sprayer

Methods:

  • Mix the ingredients
  • Spray affected areas until thoroughly moistened
  • Repeat procedure weekly for better results.

Nematodes

No more than 1/20 inch long,basically microscopic worms. Fundamentally these organisms seek out mole crickets via scent trails and consume them upon contact. Nematodes are useful as they don’t harm humans, pets and other non-targeted insects in gardens.

Requirements – A sprayer or watering can,a nematode product

Method:

  • Firstly, purchase nematodes from pest control vendors since free-living varieties prey on even beneficial insects found in soil.
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions once you got your hands on the good guys!

Preventative Measures

While there isn’t a foolproof way to prevent tomcat infestation permanently once your working environment has been cleared you would want to take preventive measures so that they never ever return! Here are five recommendations worth implementing into practice consistently;

Water Patio And Lawn Regularly

Mole cricket infestants prefer dry conditions hence frequently replenishing ground moisture content helps diminish breeding opportunities as constant saturation discourages nest-building practices within proximity over time..

Alter Light Sources To Emit Less Illumination

Outdoor lights act like bigger night lamps thus attracting unwanted northern stars. Cut down light pollution by updating preventative surveillance features illuminating quiter bulbs outside – this avoids drawing attention towards oneself especially at threat-enhanced locations within property such as irrigation/sprinkler systems installations…trust me!

Apply Pesticides Naturally

Remember harmful pesticides exposed indirectly/humanely aid predator spread hence toxicity also affects natural pollinators not including selective/target species causing additional environmental problems altogether!!

Implement effective pesticide fighting techniques such wasp parasitism which uses organic pesticides working mutually with crop growers increasing profitability whilst still being environmentally conscious about preservation.

Stop Overwatering

Paying more attention to water needs will result in a decrease of both underground moisture (breeding surface) and general pest populations thus reducing proliferation risks as well..

Implement Companion Plantation

Plant “intensively”. Start inter-planting flowers, fruit trees even vegetables within purposeful manners controlling mole cricket outbreaks. Consider certain plant properties that moles loathe such as garlic and fennel!

Conclusion

If you’ve been struggling with the pesky Tomcat insect then we hope these natural remedies help eradicate them from your property once and for all! Remember to identify the pest first before embarking on any eradication process. Then, armed with one or more of the suggested treatments discussed above, give yourself some time and patience – this is not an overnight fix.

Remember also art isn’t perfect at first sight however implement preventative measures after complete removal whenever possible maintaining balance keeping ground healthy without annoying pests infestation recurring regularly hence establishing equilibrium…eventually success targeted towards comfortable living paves way; remember it truly could always be worse!

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