Eastern lubber grasshopper

Romalea microptera

Order: Orthoptera

Family: Romaleidae

Genus: Romalea

The Eastern lubber grasshopper is one of the largest grasshopper species in North America, reaching 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) in body length. It has a stout, heavy body and walks or hops clumsily rather than flying—despite having wings, it is largely flightless. Adults are highly variable in colour, but the most common form features a bright yellow to orange body with bold black markings. Other colour morphs can be completely dark or black with red or orange highlights.

Unlike other grasshoppers, lubbers move slowly and rely on aposematic colouration and chemical defences rather than speed to avoid predation.

Conservation Status: IUCN

Distribution

Native to the southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, and parts of Texas.

Habitat

Prefers open, sunny habitats such as pine forests, meadows, marsh edges, and roadsides with abundant grasses and forbs. Frequently seen on shrubs and tall plants, especially during warm months.

Diet

Herbivorous. Eats a wide variety of grasses, broadleaf plants, and cultivated crops. Its strong mandibles allow it to chew through tough vegetation, and it can feed on both native and ornamental plant species.

Some plants that are toxic to other herbivores are tolerated by lubbers, which may help them acquire chemical defences.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in late summer. Females lay clusters of 20 to 50 eggs in soil or sand, where they overwinter and hatch in spring. Nymphs (immature grasshoppers) resemble small, dark versions of the adults and moult several times before reaching maturity.

Adaptation

Bright warning colours deter predators by signalling unpalatability
Defensive chemicals secreted when threatened (can emit foul-smelling foam)
Hissing noise and defensive posturing used to startle predators
Robust legs for short bursts of hopping or climbing
Flightlessness may reduce energy demands in its preferred environments

Threats to Survival

While not under threat overall, lubber populations can be affected by:

Extreme cold in northern range limits
Predation by birds, mammals, or reptiles, although many avoid them due to their chemical defences
Habitat loss in rapidly urbanizing areas

However, their broad diet and defensive adaptations make them highly resilient.