The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper is a large, distinct grasshopper species found throughout the southeastern United States, including areas from North Carolina down to Florida and west to Texas. These fascinating insects can grow up to 4 inches long and are known for their unique color patterns, which often feature a yellow or tawny base combined with black markings on their antennae, pronotum, and abdominal segments.
When they hatch, Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers are roughly 1 centimeter long and mostly black with a yellow dorsal stripe. They tend to congregate at the top of tall objects or plant stems after emerging from the soil. These grasshoppers are not just intriguing to observe but also have a significant impact on agriculture, as they can cause substantial damage to citrus, vegetable, and ornamental landscape plants due to their large numbers.
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Appearance and Species
Physical Characteristics
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera) is a large and dominating insect found in the southeastern United States. The average adult size is between 2.5 to 4 inches in length, making them one of the largest grasshopper species in the region1.
Colors and Patterns
Eastern Lubber grasshoppers are known for their striking and colorful appearance. Their coloration varies from mostly yellow or tawny with black accents on the antennae, pronotum, and abdomen2. In the nymph stage, they are black with yellow stripes3.
Sexual Dimorphism
Males and females show slight differences in size and color pattern. Males are generally smaller than females, while females can have a wider range of size and weight, sometimes reaching 12 grams4.
Comparison Table:
| Attribute | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Weight | Lighter | Up to 12 grams |
| Color Pattern | Yellow/tawny | Yellow/tawny |
Habitat and Distribution
Geographic Range
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper is mainly found in the southeastern region of the United States1. Here’s a quick overview:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Central Texas
Preferred Habitats
These grasshoppers are known to enjoy a variety of habitat types. Some favorite habitats include:
- Pinewoods2
- Shrubs
- Broadleaf weeds
- Grasses
In each of their preferred habitats, Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers are attracted to a broad range of plant hosts, where they consume irregular holes in the vegetation3.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Life Cycle
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper has a distinct life cycle, involving the following stages:
- Nymphs: When newly hatched, they are 1 centimeter long and almost entirely black, with a long, yellow dorsal stripe1.
- Molting: Nymphs go through five molts, increasing in size2.
- Adulthood: After the final molt, they reach the adult stage.
This species has one generation per year, and both nymph and adult stages have unique characteristics.
Behavior
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers are known for their slow, clumsy movements3. They don’t fly or hop well due to their large size, making them harmless to humans but easy targets for predators.
Adaptations
These grasshoppers have developed unique adaptations to survive:
- Antennae: They have long antennae to detect predators and environment.
- Coloration: Young lubbers have bright stripes, while adults display bright colors, acting as a warning to predators4.
- Chemical defense: They secrete a foamy substance to deter predators.
Their behavior and adaptations have allowed Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers to thrive in their natural habitats.
Diet and Feeding
Vegetation Preferences
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper feeds on a variety of plants. Some examples of their preferred vegetation include:
- Crinum
- Amaryllis
- Amazon Lily
- Narcissus
In addition to these plants, they also feed on various vegetables and ornamental plants found in gardens and crops.
Impact on Gardens and Crops
Lubber grasshoppers can cause significant damage to gardens and crops due to their voracious appetites. They can consume a wide range of plants including:
- Peas
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Beans
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Tomato
- Pepper
- Celery
- Okra
- Fennel
Here is a comparison table of their impact on some common garden vegetables:
| Vegetable | Impact by Lubber Grasshopper |
|---|---|
| Peas | High |
| Lettuce | Moderate |
| Kale | High |
| Beans | Moderate |
| Cabbage | Low |
| Eggplant | Moderate |
| Tomato | Low |
| Pepper | Low |
| Celery | Moderate |
| Okra | High |
| Fennel | Moderate |
Lubber grasshoppers can be particularly problematic for vegetable gardens as they tend to hop from plant to plant, causing widespread damage.
Defense Mechanisms
Physical Adaptations
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper has a few physical adaptations to protect itself from predators. Despite having wings, Lubber Grasshoppers are actually flightless and only jump short distances. Their large bodies and bright colors provide a visual cue to predators, indicating a potential threat. Lubbers can also emit a loud hissing sound to deter predators while quickly crawling to escape.
- Bright coloration
- Large body size
- Hissing sounds
- Fast crawling
Chemical Defenses
In addition to their physical defense mechanisms, Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers also possess chemical defenses which make them unpalatable to predators. These grasshoppers produce a toxic secretion that is foul-smelling and contains chemicals that can be harmful to other animals.
- Toxic secretion
- Foul-smelling chemicals
- Harmful to predators
Insecticides can be used to control Lubber Grasshopper populations. However, their unique biology may make some chemicals less effective. It is essential to choose appropriate insecticides that specifically target the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper to avoid harming other beneficial insects.
Comparison of Physical and Chemical Defenses
| Physical Defenses | Chemical Defenses |
|---|---|
| Bright coloration | Toxic secretion |
| Large body size | Foul-smelling chemicals |
| Hissing sounds | Harmful to predators |
| Fast crawling |
Control and Management
Monitoring and Prevention
Eastern lubber grasshoppers can cause significant damage to citrus, vegetable crops, and ornamental landscape plants. To prevent them from damaging your garden:
- Regularly inspect plants for eggs and nymphs.
- Keep lawn areas mowed to limit the grasshopper’s habitat.
- Limit the amount of attractive vegetation in the area (source)
Chemical Treatments
Insecticides can be an effective method for controlling eastern lubber grasshoppers. Some common insecticides include:
- Carbaryl
- Bifenthrin
- Permethrin
When choosing an insecticide, consider the following pros and cons:
| Insecticide | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Carbaryl | Effective on nymphs and adults | Can harm beneficial insects |
| Bifenthrin | Controls spider mites as well | May flare spider mite populations if not managed |
| Permethrin | A strong and efficient chemical treatment | May harm bees and other beneficial insects |
(source)
Natural Predators and Biocontrol
Eastern lubber grasshoppers have few natural predators due to their unpalatable taste and bright warning colors. However, some vertebrate predators and biocontrol methods include:
- Birds (only a few species)
- Turtles
- Parasitic insects
- Pathogenic fungi
These natural predators may help manage grasshopper populations when combined with other control methods. (source)
In conclusion, a combination of monitoring, prevention, chemical treatments, and natural predators can help control eastern lubber grasshopper populations and protect your garden from damage.
Footnotes
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51 Comments. Leave new
Is this grasshopper poisonous? My sister in Florida said she has them in her yard and that they are poisonous.
These have found their way into my garden and I’m not sure what damage they will do. I have lots of leafy green plants, not too many flowers. They hang out in groups. They have eaten my large elephant ear plant. I would like to get rid of them without hurting the lizzards or my plants. My plants are really filling out this season. I am in Orlando Florida
I think this guy is very close:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lonqueta/4440408087/
Chromacis psittacus
It does look close Cesar, but the antennae are not tipped in yellow. We wonder if that is a species variation or a distinguishing characteristic of a different species. If you have the correct genus, then we were wrong with the family. This may be one of the Lubber Grasshoppers. We will adjust the posting.
Yes, I noticed the difference in antennae. And It seems that the forelegs in the species pictured here have no stripes, another difference from the species pectured in flickriver.
I searched for Chromacis Peru in Google Images, and I found some Flickriver images like this that have simmilar antanae and legs, but they only say Chromacis Sp. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2245778735_72db4d6122.jpg
I see that yours 2011 picture of Chromacis speciosa have the yellow on the tip of antennae.
Only now I realized it’s chromacRis not chromacis, as I was writing…
Hi,
I know this is an old post but I feel like this grasshopper is more likely from Genus Taeniopoda. The physical appearance looks very similar. I feel that it doesn’t match the appearance of the Dragon Lubbers as much.
See here:
http://www.americaninsects.net/o/taeniopoda-auricornis.html
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Taeniopoda_reticulata.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thanissaro/3647669046/
Thanks for your consideration.
-Tamar
Thank you for the comment. After looking at your links, we concur that this appears to be Taeniopoda reticulata and we have updated the posting based on your comment.
Hello there, this is Barbara Garcia, the one who took the pics of this brazilian non katydid haha! this amazing creature really caught my attention and was love at first time, once I saw it’s difrerent head shape that pretty much confused me! would like to give special thanks to Cesar Crash from Brazil who gave me a very fast answer and made me super excited about it and of course, also everyone from What’s That Bug!
thank’s a tone!!!!!
Babsy
Hi Babsy,
Thanks for the kind comment.
Try Pyrgomorphidae
Thanks. Perhaps you didn’t see the update that Cesar Crash provided that includes this statement: “I think that the grasshopper may be close to this Borneacris in the family Trigonopterygidae.” We forgot to remove the “unidentified” tag and we will do that immediately.
Tanks. Perhaps you didn’t notice the distribution map for Borneacridinae: http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=36723. So, what’s it doing in Brazil??
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Indeed, the distribution of the whole family: http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=9530
Yup, hello there, it’s Barbara Garcia here. I spoke to an Argentinian entomologist here in Brasilia, from EMBRAPA (Raul Alberto Laumann) about my bug, and he told me the same thing. The family Trigonopterygidae doesn’t belong to Brazil, and he thinks this is for sure a grasshopper, but from the family Acridiidae, Subfamily Leptysminae. But, he was also very curious cuz in this area, is very common to find Leptysminae insects but much smaller and brown.
Well, the nearest thing I can find so far is still Pyrgomorphidae: Omurini, see: http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=38767
Thanks for trying to help us track down this species. It is greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for your quick response and all the information!
I found one today in Tipton county tn. On the hwy 54 bridge leading in to Haywood county.
I just saw some people catching these grass hoppers in Louisiana. These grass hoppers are big. What do they catch them for? I am from New Brunswick Canada and a long lost cousin of the Cajuns, and curious.
We aren’t entirely sure why most people do most of the things they do. Did they seem to be harvesting the Lubbers? We imagine they are among the most nutritious insects there are. We will try to contact David Gracer to see if he knows if Louisiana locals eat Grasshoppers.
Greetings, and apologies for the delay in response.
Lubbers: they’re a special case in the annals of entomophagy. My colleague and friend David George Gordon has served them for many years, when he can get them. Yet their seemingly-toxic properties are well-documented; various animals will eat one; vomit; and refuse to sample others. I’ve eaten them and served them once or twice; they’re not tasty, but there’s nothing all that bad about them. Other grasshopper species are clearly tastier, though usually less visually impressive.
One of these days I might be able to get to the bottom of this conundrum, but there are bigger questions out there.
Thanks for the comment Dave.
Greetings, and apologies for the delay in response.
Lubbers: they’re a special case in the annals of entomophagy. My colleague and friend David George Gordon has served them for many years, when he can get them. Yet their seemingly-toxic properties are well-documented; various animals will eat one; vomit; and refuse to sample others. I’ve eaten them and served them once or twice; they’re not tasty, but there’s nothing all that bad about them. Other grasshopper species are clearly tastier, though usually less visually impressive.
One of these days I might be able to get to the bottom of this conundrum, but there are bigger questions out there.
I honestly thought this was a chicken and someone was playing a prank. 🙂 had to zoom in to check it out
Nice find! It’s interesting to see what these grasshoppers look like when they first hatch. Thanks for sharing!
I think it’s T. gutturusa. By the scarlet-red pronotum and antennae, anda by the pronotal and lateral crest black.
Thanks for the information. We will attempt to find an online link.
I found a couple of them in my Azalea plants. Did not appear to be eating any leaves. I live in Mount Dora, FL.
I think its Taeniopoda obscura. By black coloration and the most robust pronotum of the Taeniopoda genus, and the distribution in the Yucatan peninsula.
T. reticulata are distributed in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
I think its Taeniopoda obscura. By black coloration and the most robust pronotum of the Taeniopoda genus, and the distribution in the Yucatan peninsula.
T. reticulata are distributed in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Cool! Many thanx Daniel and Karl. I’ll try to contact Barbara who must be in South Africa now.
Best!
We have a lot of Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers eating our butterfly host plants. Do we need to get rid of them or?
Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
We have a lot of Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers eating our butterfly host plants. Do we need to get rid of them or?
Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
I have been thinking about entomophagy for some time, since it seems a logical way to appease hunger. Since this is as much a taboo in my country , Honduras, as it is in USA, I have been slow to start experimenting. I had read grasshoppers are edible. I had the unfortunate idea of starting with these lubber nymphs. Yes. Toxic. Vomiting, nausea. About three hours of feeling sick. I had to stick my finger up my throat and expel some of it. I learned my lesson.
Can anyone tell me what grasshoppers/crickets ARE edible (here in Central America).
Enrique,
We are sorry your foray into entomophagy did not go well. We do have an Edible Insects tag on our site that has identified many of the edible critters in our archives.
I have been thinking about entomophagy for some time, since it seems a logical way to appease hunger. Since this is as much a taboo in my country , Honduras, as it is in USA, I have been slow to start experimenting. I had read grasshoppers are edible. I had the unfortunate idea of starting with these lubber nymphs. Yes. Toxic. Vomiting, nausea. About three hours of feeling sick. I had to stick my finger up my throat and expel some of it. I learned my lesson.
Can anyone tell me what grasshoppers/crickets ARE edible (here in Central America).
Will look into it, thank you. I will not dismay! (Thought the sight of an eastern lubber makes me sick- I can see how this works!)
I saw some at my apartment and I was wondering if thay are poisonous
Just off the tops of our heads, we do not believe they are poisonous, though we do believe they do not taste good, a trait that is advertised with aposomatic coloration.
How do you kill them they are all over my yard?
We do not provide extermination advice.
I found one in Cedar Grove, TN off of hwy seventy east. Hanging around a bush and some Tiger Lilys, The orange and white striped ones. It was just clumbing away from my weeder. took a picture looks just like the one above. wyatt brooks mckenzie tn 38201
Saw an american bald Eagle this morning, across from the the Carroll County 1000 Acre lake off highway 70.
I found one in Cedar Grove, TN off of hwy seventy east. Hanging around a bush and some Tiger Lilys, The orange and white striped ones. It was just clumbing away from my weeder. took a picture looks just like the one above. wyatt brooks mckenzie tn 38201
Saw an american bald Eagle this morning, across from the the Carroll County 1000 Acre lake off highway 70.
Thank you for the picture and identification
I have a bunch in my front yard eating young bromiliads which I’m not crazy about. Not sure if I spelled that correctly but i’m sure you know
Thank you for the picture and identification
I have a bunch in my front yard eating young bromiliads which I’m not crazy about. Not sure if I spelled that correctly but i’m sure you know
I live in Columbus ga and they are all over my. Back and front yard
What do they eat?
According to BugGuide, the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper eats: “Many herbs and shrubs. Favorite foods are said to include: Pokeweed, Phytolaca americana; Tread-softly, Cnidoscolus stimmulosus; Pickerel Weed, Pontederia cordata; Lizard’s Tail, Saururus sp.; Sedges, Cyperus; and Arrowhead, Sagittaria sp. (Grasshoppers of Florida).”