I Want to Scream !!

A little while ago I finally learned what this thing was. I have had no problems with insects til now. These things are nearing the end of their adult cycle eating everything in sight. My black elephant ear can't put out leaves before they're devoured. All my milk weed was stripped of growth (I know caterpillar didn't do it). They have reached the stage where they will actually chase you when you come toward them. AAAAHHHHHH! (as I pull what hair I've got left out.) Landlubbers!!!! I HATE YOU.!!!


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=6801755

Oh bummer! I know how you feel. I found this article which might help or at least give you some ideas.

http://www.bugspray.com/article/locust.html

X

Gawd, I hate them too. They've eaten my amaryllis to the roots (I kid you not, the whole blinking BULB, gone). They've eaten all the straps off the Peruvian daffs. They did their best to eat every single caladium I have. They eat EVERYTHING!

Stinkin' lubbers. I've become a professional squasher/stomper, kill 'em by the handfuls, and still there are always more to take their places.

Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't seen those, and I hope it stays that way.

What a bummer. :(

I saw one at Brookgreen Gardens a while back and all the tourists were stopping to gape at it. Huge doesn't begin to describe these ugly critters. They are not uncommon in FL so I guess they are hitching a ride up here with plants.

All the more reason to check all plants you buy very carefully.

OMG, we call them Texas Grass hoppers and they eat everything in site. Had them in Georgia and could not get rid of them, they showed up every year.

Lavina

Wish I could find the picture of the one I saw - my photo files are as bad as my garage. I remember the darn thing being 4" long. A friend with me who had previously lived in Florida ID'd it as a lubber.

Finding things on DG is easier than at home. LOL

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=6471626


This message was edited Aug 3, 2009 10:27 AM

We eat them deep fried here. Yummy! I'ts called getting your own back.

pajonica

LOLOL pajonica! You can have my share!

Does anybody dare me to try it. I got plenty of them ! I won't tell you what my wife already said. LOL

pajonica any special prep or do you just dump them in the oil alive ?

I think you need to call Andrew Zimmerman LOL
Fried might not be bad. Chiocolate covered are pretty good.

Lavina

Just toss them in a light preheated vegetable oil and fry until brown, serve with a little soy sauce or salt if you
prefer. Use a tooth pic after to remove any legs from your teeth. Seriously! They have a sort of sweet nutty
flavour. I wonder how many of you have the nerve to try it! LOL.

pajonica

Not me! LOL
Just looking at them is hard enough to take.

Lobsters are ugly but I'll bet you'll eat those. Irrational , but good news for locust! LOL.

pajonica

Careful about eating them -(unless you are a shrike) as they may be (almost certainly are) different than the ones that are eaten in the Far East.
From the site listed above http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/lubber.htm


Defensive Characteristics
Eastern lubber grasshoppers possess a variety of abilities to defend themselves. Their bright color pattern is a warning to predators that the lubber contains toxic substances. Indeed, there are several records attributing the demise of individual birds to failure to exercise caution when selecting prey items. Also small mammals such as opossums have been known to vomit violently after ingesting a lubber, and to remain ill for several hours. However, shrikes are reported to catch and kill lubbers.

If the red, yellow, and black coloration fails to keep a predator at bay, then the lubber may secrete a foamy spray from the thoracic region (the portion of the body where the legs and wings are attached.) This spray consists of a number of compounds, some of which, are irritants. This bubbly froth is accompanied by a relatively loud, frightful hissing sound. The insect contracts the abdomen to force air out of the spiracles along with the defensive secretion. The sound is produced as the spray is being forced out of these tiny holes in the thorax called spiracles. Eastern lubbers, like most all grasshoppers, can also regurgitate recently consumed plant material. This regurgitant is mostly liquid and has a dark brown color. This is commonly referred to as "tobacco spit." The tobacco spit is partially digested food material along with some semi-toxic compounds from the insect's crop region. This substance can easily stain clothing.

Bright Colors (i.e. no camouflage) in insects and other bird prey means "eat me at your peril" ! Poor opossum is colorblind, so does not see the warning, but birds and reptiles can see in color and so should avoid them - that is why they are such a pest - birds won't eat them!

I think you are right ours may look similar but yours sound horrible! Though I think the toxins would probably
be destroyed in frying, don't think I could stomach a raw one, LOL Thanks for the interesting info.

pajonica

I don't eat lobsters either. LOL

This is interesting http://baheyeldin.com/science/locust-plague-in-africa-west-asia-and-australia.html

I had no idea that a silly tongue-in-cheek childish remark on my part could generate such interesting discussion. I am learning a lot about these types of insects. When I view the information provided in the last post, I feel foolish complaining about my little inconvenience.

It is possible to be educated about so much on a garden forum and actually not go off topic. Thanks everyone for participating.

Hey gessieviolet you provide the ammo we provide the humor! I'm off now for a grasshopper sandwich, and a nice cup of tea!

Jon