Have you seen me before?
I am one insect, an Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera.
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
The two insects above are the same species, photographed at different life stages. The first picture shows an Eastern lubber nymph, or immature insect, which matures into the colorful adult, shown below. The exact color patterns are not identical and may differ between individuals.
Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida. In Northern Florida, you’re more likely to see a Southern Lubber grasshopper, which looks a little different. Their coloring is mostly black with yellow, orange, or occasionally red markings.
Behavior
This time of year, you may see many small black grasshoppers with neon yellow or orange markings. They are often crawling on the ground or close to it, and don’t move very quickly. If you see one of these little critters, there are likely several more around. The young grasshoppers can be seen walking or climbing near the area where they hatched, and as they mature, they spread and can be found in virtually any habitat.
They grow into adults by July/August time, so you’ll mostly see them around during those months. Even as adults, these insects are pretty slow-moving and rather bad at hopping. Male adults can grow to 43 to 55 mm in length, and females measure 50 to 70 mm.
Although they have wings, these grasshoppers can’t fly. Instead, lubbers use their wings to “hiss” when they’re alarmed. They also secrete a foul scent to make any threat think twice – so use gloves or a tool to handle them.
Once mature, they mate, and the females lay one generation of eggs, with the cycle starting over again. Nymphs typically hatch from their eggs around March/April and congregate in large groups.
Habitat
They prefer a habitat that:
- is low and moist
- has dense undergrowth, like pastures, woods, and hammocks
Stay tuned to learn how to control lubber populations with UF/IFAS recommended pest control strategies.
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Read more
- Lubber Grasshoppers Subfamily Romaleinae
- EENY-006/IN132: Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera (Beauvois) (Insecta: Orthoptera: Acrididae)
More Resources
- The UF/IFAS Integrated Pest Management Website
- EDIS IPM Publications
- Integrated Pest Management Control Strategies
- Insect Pest Management on Turfgrass to prevent the improper use of pesticides.
- Managing Insecticide and Miticide Resistance in Florida Landscapes.
References
- UF/IFAS: Tips on Managing the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Which Damages Plants, Citrus and Vegetables | WQCS
- EENY-006/IN132: Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera (Beauvois) (Insecta: Orthoptera: Acrididae)
- Tachinid Fly | University of Maryland Extension
- Lamb, Maggie A., Daniel J. Otto, and Douglas W. Whitman. “Parasitism of Eastern Lubber Grasshopper by Anisia Serotina (Diptera: Tachinidae) in Florida.” The Florida Entomologist 82, no. 2 (1999): 365–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/3496593
Supervising agent: Dr. Whitney Elmore
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