UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

May 26, 2004

Quick Links:    Identification    References    Update, 2007

Feature Article - for release the week of May 30, 2004

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

The gardening news media is swamped with stories about an unusual infestation of "locusts" effecting northern states. These red-eyed creatures are better know as cicadas. Every 17 years they emerge, scare people, then mate and lay eggs, returning to the soil from where they came.  Relax - the periodical cicada doesn’t appear here.

While we do have cicadas, ours appear later in the year and have green eyes. But we do have our own special kind of locusts - better know as Lubber grasshoppers. These are monstrous creatures that can chew up plants, but are rarely a big problem. And at this time of year, you can look for the smaller versions and prevent some plant damage if you know where to look.

Floridians have little trouble recognizing this insect.  It may be considered the best-known species of grasshopper in Florida, and one of the most readily recognized among the insects. The eastern Lubber grasshopper is known both for its size and color. Because the wings cover about half the abdomen, this species does not fly. It can jump only short distances. The lubber is quite clumsy and slow in its movements.

In north Florida, the Lubber is mostly black but well marked with yellow. In our area, they are mostly yellow but bear red and black markings and red on the wings. Adult males can reach two inches in length, while the larger female Lubbers can approach three inches at maturity.

Young grasshoppers insects look similar to the adults in shape, but are smaller. These nymphs are also colored differently from the adults - they are black with a narrow yellow stripe running down their back, with red on the head and front legs. Young lubbers tend to appear in clusters, which helps people notice them in their yards. Adults live throughout the year, and their eggs begin to hatching here in March. The highest number of adult lubbers occurs in July and August.

Eastern Lubber grasshoppers eat many different kinds of plants. They seem to prefer open pine-woods, weedy fields and the weedy vegetation along roadsides. Occasionally on rural highways, you will see a parade of lubbers marching across the road, with enough flattened lubber grasshoppers to cause a minor bug slick!

Ditches are also a great hideout for lubbers, where they can migrate into groves and vegetable fields. Lubbers may invade residential areas and feast on certain ornamental plants. We often hear about Lubbers on daylilies, Amaryllis and Crinum lilies. Despite their size, they require far less food than other grasshoppers that are smaller.

Bright colors are often a warning to wildlife that the insect may be toxic or at least distasteful. If that doesn’t work, the Lubbers may spread their wings, hiss, and secrete a foamy spray. This 'tobacco spit,' is partially digested food along with some semi-toxic compounds from the insect's stomach. It can easily stain clothing.

Lubbers rarely occur in numbers high enough to cause large-scale damage to ornamentals. In most cases the homeowner can rid a prized ornamental of individual Lubbers by hand. Because they are large, slow moving, and essentially harmless to humans, all that is necessary to rid the area of these pests is a kid, a can, a brick and a sidewalk. Property owners can minimize potential damage within minutes.

On the rare occasion when chemical control is necessary, several insecticides that are registered for use on ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables can be used to control grasshoppers. For specifics, consult the insecticide label or our office for current recommendations from the University of Florida. Remember that grasshoppers are much easier to control when they are nymphs. As they grow larger, higher rates of pesticides must be applied for effective control.

We can supply you with a copy of a fact sheet on the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper that comes from the UF Featured Creatures website. Master Gardeners can answer your questions about your Florida Yard - call or visit them on Tuesday afternoons here at our office. If you need additional information on lubber grasshoppers, visit out webpage at http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu, or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is (863) 763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu . Happy Memorial Day!

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The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Acting Dean.  Last update: 05/19/2008 .  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert 

References

Culbert, Daniel F.  Big Grasshoppers Cause Little Problems.  Vero Beach: Press Journal October 10, 1999.

Scherer, Clay.   Lubber Grasshopper  Featured Creatures EENY-6.   Gainesville: UF/IFAS Florida Cooperative Extension Service,  February 2008. 

Scherer, C.W.  and  Short, D.E.   Biology and Control of the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-335, May 2003.

Update, 2007

06/24/07 - Eastern lubber grasshoppers a problem in Florida

Received from: John L. Capinera, chair, UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology  (352/392-1901) capinera@ufl.edu

Lubber grasshoppers are unusually abundant in the Polk County, Florida, area this year. This native grasshopper is a regular pest in some areas - though it is not usually so abundant as this year. So if a large flightless (It has wings but is too heavy to fly!) grasshopper is plaguing your yard or farm this year, it is likely a lubber. The immature grasshoppers are mostly black, with a thin yellow or red line down their back. The adult is more variable, ranging from mostly yellow to mostly black, sometime with pink or rose color on their wings.

Lubber numbers cycle up and down with some regularity. Their abundance this year is either food or weather related, maybe both. They typically inhabit wet areas - which this year dried out, perhaps encouraging them to forage further afield - or maybe the drought allowed some unusual weed to flourish that increased survival. They eat many different plants. The outbreaks tend to be localized and not long-lived (although Polk County has a history of above-average abundance of these insects). It is not likely that they will abundant for more than one additional year in that area.

These grasshoppers are difficult to kill when they mature. It is best to target them when they are young. Most of the insecticides are ineffective on adults, but pyrethroids such as Talstar (bifenthrin) are among the more effective products should you feel it necessary to kill them.

For more information see: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/lubber.htm.