The middle of summer, late July and August, is the time north Florida residents see the largest numbers of adult eastern lubber grasshoppers. The females are seeking appropriate places to lay their eggs, and their large size and distinctive markings make them easily visible.
The eggs from which these grasshoppers hatched were deposited in the ground back in the spring, probably in mid-to-late March. After hatching, the grasshoppers have been eating their way through the garden and progressively growing larger with each of the five molts they go through.
This lubber grasshopper is one of the most distinctive insects commonly found in the southeastern United States. The adults can be seven to eight centimeters (three and a half inches or more) in size with the females being larger than the males.
The adults may be a yellow or tawny color with black markings, but a predominantly black form with yellow markings is often found in areas of north Florida. Although the adult insects have wings, they are unable to fly because of their large size.
Eastern lubber grasshoppers can grow to impressive sizes, and they have appetites to match. Control of this species is important to the health of the home garden, but that control can be difficult to achieve.
Additionally, they are not particularly adept at jumping, so most are observed walking on the ground or on plants suitable for eating. They are, however, good climbers, easily making it to the tops of plants to feed on the tender foliage.
Only one generation of lubbers is hatched each year, but the large numbers produced and their voracious appetites make them a formidable garden pest.
Lubbers consume the foliage of numerous plant species. Their host range covers at least 100 species including shrubs, trees, herbaceous species and grasses.
Amaryllis, crinum lily, canna, and daylilies are among the grasshopper’s favorite food sources, and these plants are often almost completely defoliated by the voracious eaters. They are also known to eat common vegetable plants such as lettuce, beans and cabbage, causing extensive damage and crop reduction, while eggplant, tomato, pepper, celery, okra, and sweet corn are less preferred.
Lubbers are often observed in areas where weeds are common, and certain weed species like Florida beggerweed and Florida pusley are preferred plants. But the insects do not limit themselves to the unwanted weeds and quickly disperse to the cultivated parts of the landscape.
They are also commonly found in areas prone to be wet, like irrigation and drainage ditches and edges of ponds and lakes.
Physical capture and removal tends to be the primary control method for eastern lubbers. Control by the application of contact insecticides has been utilized, however, these grasshoppers have proven resistant to many chemicals and toxins.
It is interesting to note that oleander, a plant containing poisonous alkaloids, is a common food source for lubbers. Insecticide treatments are most effective on the younger stages of development of lubbers, making early spotting and identification important.
Keeping weeds under control and keeping vegetation mowed to the appropriate height has proven useful in helping reduce the numbers of grasshoppers.
Insecticide-treated baits have been used with some success for controlling lubbers. The baits are placed on the ground near valued plants; however, the grasshopper has been known to bypass the bait to feed on its preferred food sources.
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