Lubber Grasshopper

The Lubber Grasshopper, An Interesting Grasshopper Species

The lubber grasshopper could best be described as a rather colorful pest. It is found mainly in the southeastern corner of the United States, but several types are found as far west as Arizona, and in the southern Plains states as well. Being quite a large grasshopper, its coloration gives it a somewhat fierce appearance. The lubber is harmless to humans however unless eaten, where their toxicity could cause a problem, although usually only small mammals are apt to be seriously affected. One familiar with grasshoppers in general might think that the lubber grasshopper, because of its size, could hop farther, fly farther and eat more than most other grasshopper species. The opposite is the case.
All of the types of lubber grasshoppers found in the United States are flightless, though they all have wings. The problem is, their wings are too small and too short to do any good. Neither are they particularly good at jumping, a type called the Horse lubber being an exception. Mostly they prefer to walk, which being somewhat clumsy, they really aren't very good at either. To cap it off, the lubber grasshopper is slow moving, seemingly easy pickings for any predator. As far as eating is concerned, the lubber eats less food than most grasshoppers, but a swarm of nymphs can, as a group, eat quite a bit in a short time.