Why Are Mole Crickets So Destructive?

According to Skip, mole crickets are so destructive for several reasons. First, since they spend most of their time underground, you may not notice their activity in the lawn until they have caused extensive damage. Skip says it’s common for weeds to come in and take over the areas where the grass has declined, so unless you’re paying close attention, it’s hard to recognize the grass is dying because the lawn still looks green. Many people only realize the damage done by mole crickets when the weeds die back in the winter, and most of the grass is gone.

Another reason mole crickets are so destructive is their size. They are large insects and therefore have a large appetite. Their size also contributes to the destruction of the grass from their burrowing activity. They uproot grass as they borrow through the soil exposing grass roots causing them to dry out.

Skip points out another reason mole crickets are so destructive is they are not native to North America and have no natural predators, so they populate unchecked unless treated.

Although they spend most of their time underground, they also have the ability fly, moving from place to place. Therefore, getting rid of them once doesn’t mean they won’t return and start a new infestation.

What Are The Signs of Mole Cricket Damage?

Some of the common signs of mole cricket activity include soft, spongy soil with dead grass lying on top without any roots attached. Another sign of mole cricket activity is tunnels or trails along the surface of the soil about the size of your finger.

Skip says one of the best ways to check for the presence of mole crickets in a specific area is to mix a quarter cup of dish soap in 5 gallons of water and drench an area of a few square feet. If there are any mole crickets in that area, they will immediately come to the surface within about a minute.

How to Treat Mole Crickets

If you have discovered mole crickets in your lawn, Skip recommends using an insecticide labeled for lawns with the active ingredient Bifenthrin. “The challenge with treating mole crickets is getting enough product down into the soil to kill them. The best way to do that is to make the application in the late afternoon. Mole crickets are nocturnal feeders and will be closest to the surface at night.

Thoroughly water the area to be treated, apply the product and then thoroughly water again immediately after the treatment. Watering before and after treatment is the best way to make sure it gets down into the soil. Doing this in the late afternoon will ensure the treatment is in the root zone of the soil when the mole crickets come near the surface to feed.”

Skip says that mole crickets can be effectively controlled by catching an infestation early, treating the lawn properly and following up to make sure they do not return.

If you are having problems keeping your lawn healthy, Father and Son Pest and Lawn Solutions offers free lawn consultations. They can be reached at 850-939-968 or at fatherandsonlandscape.com

For Shelia MacLean, every diamond symbolizes a cherished memory, from a first declaration of love to a lasting commitment. Whether assisting a couple in selecting an engagement ring, helping commemorate an anniversary with a Swiss timepiece, or guiding a customer toward the perfect gift, her mission remains the same: to ensure every purchase reflects the significance of the occasion it celebrates.

A Boutique Built on Passion and Purpose

When Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts first opened its doors nearly three years ago, the vision was simple: create a welcoming environment where customers could discover beautiful jewelry, meaningful gifts, and personalized service. Today, that vision continues to flourish, strengthened by the relationships built within the community and the trust earned from loyal customers.

Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Ahead with Excitement

As Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts approaches its third anniversary, Shelia MacLean reflects on the journey with heartfelt gratitude. She is thankful for the customers who have supported the business, the community that has embraced it, and the countless memories created along the way.

Meet Our Store Manager, Loretta

We are proud to introduce Loretta, Manager of Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts. Holding a professional GIA certification and extensive expertise in fine jewelry and gemstones, Loretta brings exceptional knowledge and leadership to our team.

Visitors can purchase a $35 day pass, which includes access to multiple shooting areas, including pistol and rifle bays, three shoot-and-move bays, a 100-yard range and a 300-yard range. The pass also includes a cardboard target and target sticks.

For frequent visitors, Element Training Complex offers several membership options. Annual memberships are available for $500 and provide access to the entire facility, along with discounts in the pro shop, early registration opportunities for classes and other member benefits. Six-month memberships cost $300, while Sporting Clays memberships are available for $150 annually. Military members, veterans and law enforcement officers receive a reduced application fee.

Operations Manager Dion Walker and his wife, Valerie, have become familiar faces around the range. Valerie, who manages the pro shop, says working at Element has been a natural fit for their family.

“My husband has always been into firearms,” she said. “We were already spending so much time here shooting. Now we get to work here and bring our four kids, who also enjoy shooting.”

Element Training Complex places a strong emphasis on family participation. Children under 16 shoot free, and there are no age restrictions, provided parents determine their child is ready and remain within arm’s reach at all times. Family memberships are also available.

Originally opened by owners Lauren and Robert Boothe in 2017 as Southern Tactical, the facility was rebranded as Element Training Complex in 2020 as operations expanded.

Beyond its ranges, the facility features a pro shop stocked with firearms, ammunition, suppressors, accessories, apparel and shooting gear. The property is also home to The Oaks Sporting Clays, a 50-acre course featuring 20 stations and a 5-Stand layout that is open to the public.

The complex has become a popular venue for group outings, including corporate events, birthday celebrations, retirement parties and other special gatherings.

Competitive shooting is a major draw at Element. Monthly events include USPSA matches, Steel Challenge competitions and PCSL shooting events. The facility also hosts larger competitions throughout the year, including Tactical Games, Quantified Performance and Cowboy Action matches. Check out the upcoming PCSL 2 Gun Goat Match & Panhandle Marksman Challenge.

“We host a lot of matches at Element Training Complex,” Valerie said. “There is something happening every weekend here.”

Some events attract hundreds of competitors from across the country and beyond.

Training opportunities are another cornerstone of the facility. As a SIG Sauer Academy outpost, Element hosts courses ranging from beginner pistol and rifle instruction to concealed carry and instructor certification programs. Adaptiv Defense is also taught at the range. Additional training is offered by organizations such as JBS Training Group, Barrel and Hatchet, War HOGG Tactical and firearms instructor Frank Proctor.

For those interested in low-light shooting, the facility offers special evening events. Monthly night matches and Training Night sessions give participants the opportunity to train with night vision equipment, thermals and white lights.

Whether someone is looking to learn firearm safety, improve shooting skills, compete in matches or simply spend time with family outdoors, Element Training Complex offers a wide range of opportunities for shooters of all experience levels.

The range is open seven days a week.

Element Training Complex

4418 Cooper Lane

Holt, FL 32564

elementrange.com

850-537-4576

Shelia, a proud native of “LA” – that’s Lower Alabama – has lived in north and south of the state line her whole life. Her passion for fine jewelry started young, but it was the stories behind each piece that truly captivated her.

“Jewelry is so much more than something beautiful,” Shelia says. “It represents love, achievement, and memory. It becomes part of a person’s life story.”

Her husband Gordon, a native Floridian and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shares her vision. With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence shaped by his military service, Gordon helps source the store’s luxury Swiss watch collection and carefully curated inventory for discerning men. Barons Jewelry is now a certified dealer with the largest fine watch network in the world – giving us direct access to virtually any timepiece, from any major brand, in any reference. In addition to Rolex, Omega, Breitling, and other sought-after Swiss brands, we now source the Holy Trinity – Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin – alongside rare and collectible pieces from across the market.

And the store’s name? It’s a loving nod to their family’s F4 Savannah cat, Baron – a regal feline whose exotic leopard-like appearance inspired the boutique’s branding. The result? A luxurious, inviting space that feels both refined and refreshingly unpretentious.

Baron’s also stands out for its heart. The MacLean’s are passionate about community involvement, sponsoring local school teams and quietly supporting nonprofit causes – especially those that serve military families, veterans, and active-duty service members.

Baron’s continues to grow by word of mouth – from grateful grooms who found the perfect ring, to retirees marking a milestone, to proud parents choosing a meaningful graduation gift.

“We’re not here just to sell,” Shelia says. “We’re here to help people find something unforgettable. Something that becomes part of their love story.”

We can also design custom jewelry, and Shelia has recently started a luxury line of exquisite pieces, created exclusively for Baron’s clients.

Whether you’re marking an anniversary, popping the big question, or simply treating yourself to something timeless, Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts offers luxury with a local soul.

Visit us across from Crestview High School in the Hancock Bank Building. Explore more at www.BaronsJewelry.com.

Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts

Retail Boutique Hours: M-F 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Voice/Text: 850.240.0011

Located in the Riviera Pointe Professional Building

Above the Hancock Whitney Bank across from Crestview High School

1301 Industrial Drive, 2nd Floor

Crestview, FL 32539

Advertising in the guide offers more than just placement on a page – it’s a chance to tell your story to an engaged audience that’s actively looking for recommendations. Whether you’re a restaurant hoping to fill more tables, a boutique looking to attract new shoppers, or a service provider aiming to build awareness, the guide connects you directly with people ready to spend and explore.

What makes this opportunity even more valuable is the credibility that comes with it. Readers trust the Emerald Coast Visitors Guide because it’s curated specifically for this community. Being featured alongside other reputable local businesses reinforces your presence and helps build confidence with potential customers. It’s not just advertising – it’s positioning your brand as part of the Emerald Coast experience.

As the 2026 edition approaches, now is the time for businesses to secure their spot and stand out in a competitive market. With eye-catching design, targeted distribution, and a loyal readership of 50,000+, the guide continues to be a powerful marketing tool for businesses that want to grow their reach and make a lasting impression.

But the opportunity to connect with customers doesn’t stop on the printed page.

Introducing the Emerald Coast Visitors Guide app – your go-to digital companion for discovering everything Northwest Florida has to offer. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play by simply searching, “Explore Emerald Coast”, this new platform brings the same trusted recommendations from the guide right to users’ fingertips.

Designed with both locals and visitors in mind, the app makes it easier than ever to find things to do, places to eat, where to stay, and ways to play across the Emerald Coast. Whether someone is planning a vacation, looking for a last-minute dinner spot, or searching for weekend activities, the app delivers instant access to the best options in the area.

For users, it’s convenience. For businesses, it’s another powerful way to be discovered.

The app complements the Visitors Guide by extending its reach into the digital space, meeting today’s audiences where they are – on their phones. With searchable listings, easy navigation, and up-to-date information, it keeps your business visible long after someone puts the magazine down.

Together, the Emerald Coast Visitors Guide and the app create a dynamic, multi-platform approach to local marketing. One captures attention in print, while the other keeps users engaged on the go. For businesses looking to maximize their exposure and connect with both tourists and locals, it’s a combination that delivers real results.

As Northwest Florida continues to grow, so does the opportunity to be seen. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the guide – and the app – that helps people experience the very best of the Emerald Coast.

Emerald Coast Visitors Guide

emeraldcoastvisitorsguide.com

Download the app by searching

“Explore Emerald Coast”

on the App Store and Google Play

Skip has been working in the lawn care industry right here along the Emerald Coast for over 30 years and is an expert on how to manage lawns and keep them healthy. He explains “Grass does not grow naturally in this region, so once a building lot is cleared of everything Mother Nature intended to grow there, and sod is put down, you have to be very pro-active at keeping the grass healthy, otherwise Mother Nature will begin to turn that ground back into what she intended for it to grow and you will see your grass decline.”

Skip also says that there is a lot of misinformation out there about how to properly care for your lawn. “Certain brand name fertilizer companies have promoted application schedules that are totally incorrect for the environment and type of grass we have in this area. “I frequently speak with home owners whose lawns have severely declined after they religiously followed the advice of those fertilizer companies for three or four years in a row.”

In his workshop, Skip will talk about the proper type of fertilizer to use on your lawn as well as the proper time to apply it. He emphasizes that most people who apply fertilizer to their lawn in the spring, apply it way too early. “When you apply fertilizer too early in the spring, it’s like throwing most of your money away, because the grass is not ready to absorb the fertilizer and it’s just going to get washed away before the grass uses it. Waiting until later in the spring to apply, allows all of the fertilizer to be absorbed by the grass and wastes none of it.”

Other topics Skip will cover in the workshops include, how to recognize and control lawn pests, how to keep from replacing your lawn every seven to ten years, the single most effective way to rejuvenate a declining lawn, the best way to control weeds in your lawn and the best way to water your lawn. He will also be available for individual questions.

The cost to attend a workshop is $10 and every person who attends will receive a free copy of Skip’s book What Every Home Owner Along The Emerald Coast Needs To Know About Lawn Care. “The reason I am doing these workshops and giving away my book is to give something back to the community. My business has been extremely blessed by the people of this community, and I wanted to do something for the community in return. Keeping grass healthy is my passion, and if I can educate others by sharing the knowledge and experience I have acquired by working with lawns here along the Emerald Coast over the past 30 plus years, well…that makes me feel really good.”

Hundreds of people have attended the lawn workshops Skip held in the past and they all came away with loads of information on how to care for their lawns.

The workshop will be held at Father and Son Pest and Lawn Solutions 8373 East Bay Blvd. in Navarre on Saturday, March 14 from 10:00-12:00. Seating is limited to 25. Click here to register for the workshop.