The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Does the grasshopper pictured below look familiar to you? Eastern lubbers are common in Central/Southern Florida, especially at this time of year. You may see clusters of small to medium-sized black grasshoppers low to the ground or near dense understory. This time of year, you may see many small black grasshoppers with neon yellow or orange markings.

In July/August, these black nymphs will mature into colorful adults (pictured below). 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.

If these insects are damaging your plants, there are some UF/IFAS-recommended pest control strategies you can try. Let’s discuss them.

Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a UF-recommended pest management approach to controlling insects, plant diseases, and weeds with a focus on protecting public and environmental health.

Let’s talk about the techniques that work to help mitigate lubber populations.

Chemical Control

UF/IFAS Entomology Professor Norm Leppla suggests alternative management techniques (like mechanical or biological) since insecticides are “not usually needed or effective” on Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers (WQCS, 2024).

• Remember, the use of broad-spectrum insecticides will also impact populations of beneficial insects (see biological control below)
  • Avoiding insecticides will help maintain beneficial insect populations

Generally, insecticides are an ineffective treatment on lubbers, especially on adults, because of their large size.

If you choose to use chemical treatment:

• choose an appropriate chemical registered for grasshopper control
• spot treat the insects
• closely follow the instructions on the label

Mechanical Control

Possibly most effective is removing and disposing of the insects manually, also known as mechanical control. 

• use gloves or a tool to remove the insects and drop them in a bucket of soapy water
• shake them off the plants and dispose of them 
• spray the insects with a strong stream of water

Biological Control

The enemy of your enemy is a friend, right? Some natural population control includes lubber predators, such as:

• loggerhead shrikes, Lanius ludovicianus L.
• tachinid fly, Anisia serotina
• sarcophagids, Blaesoxipha opifera
• Blaesoxipha hunteri

Not all insects are bad. There are many beneficial insects that prey on garden pests. You can encourage these natural predators to visit your garden by creating a favorable environment.

An Ally Fly 

For example, the tachinid fly is a good ally to have in the garden since they can parasitize 60-90% of young lubber grasshoppers (Lamb et al. 1999).

These flies are commonly mistaken for house flies, but they are pollinators and foragers that parasitize the immature life stages of several pest insect species. Meaning, they kill other immature insects to complete their reproduction cycle.

To attract: plant flowering herbs (dill, mint, parsley, cilantro, etc.) – they love the blooms!

• they prefer shallow flowers that are disk or bowl-shaped, so pollen and nectar are easy to access
• as a bonus, they like to snack on aphids

Read about how to grow herbs in Florida.

Cultural Control

If possible, keep your area properly managed. This will help to reduce establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and survival.

Some strategies to control insects include:

• keep grass mowed to expose the insects
• clean up areas with weeds and excess vegetation
• plant less appealing host plants

Read the Series: 

• The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Behavior (Yard Pest: Have you seen me?)
• The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Diet
• The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Pest Control

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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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