Although less numerous, it produces damage similar to the southern mole cricket. It can be identified by having four fingers on the dactyls on the digging claw. The tawny mole cricket , Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder, is closely-related to the southern mole cricket. It occurs in other southeastern states as far west as Louisiana, and has only recently been detected in Texas. In contrast to the southern mole cricket, the tawny mole cricket lacks pale spots on the pronotum and the space between the pair of dactyls on the front tibiae is smaller, appearing V-shaped.
Winter is spent as partially-grown nymphs and as adults.
In spring and early summer, mating and dispersal flights occur and afterwards females lay eggs in cells dug in the soil. One generation is produced per year, although a second generation may occur in southern Texas. Infestations are usually very spotty and localized. They are active at night and either tunnel just beneath the surface up to 20 feet per night when soil is moist in search of insect prey or come to the surface and run about freely. Tunneling activities can be very disruptive to many plants.