Huge Grasshopper

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noscatch Jul 20, 2010

We found this guy on our front porch near a small palm tree near Orlando, FL. It is about 4 inches from head to "tail".

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noscatch Jul 20, 2010

This is another shot. Taken by a 16oz red cup for scale.

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noscatch Jul 20, 2010

Does anyone have any idea what exactly this is?

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jenbrink Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6a) Jul 20, 2010

I myself would call him "Fish Food" !

I cant stand grass hoppers, they are no good around here.

I hope someone will help you ID this for you.

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hemlady Melvindale, MI(Zone 5a) Jul 21, 2010

Many years ago when visiting Florida I saw one of those. They are really big.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 21, 2010

This is an eastern lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera (Orthoptera: Romaleidae) - see http://tinyurl.com/2ebfx5l for a fact sheet. These grasshoppers formerly were placed in the family Acrididae.

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svejkovat Grand Haven, MI Jul 21, 2010

How fun. The name seemed curious and the fact sheet linked to above describes this grasshopper.....

"This species is incapable of flight and can jump only short distances. Mostly the lubber is quite clumsy and slow in movement and travels by walking and crawling feebly over the substrate."

Sure enough, an online dictionary on the origin of expressions give us....


"The word *landlubber*, first recorded in the late 1690s, is formed from *land* and the earlier *lubber*. This *lubber* dates from the fourteenth century and originally meant 'a clumsy, stupid fellow; lout; oaf'. By the sixteenth century it had developed the specialized sense 'an unseamanlike person; inexperienced seaman', which is the same sense as *landlubber* and was eventually combined with *land* to emphasize the unfamiliarity-with-the-sea aspect."

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jul 22, 2010

the name might be fun but these guys do serious damage in a short time. i usually grab them from behind with tongs and then smash them. for a heavy infestation, spinosad works great.

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cyberageous Everglades, FL(Zone 10a) Apr 26, 2011

It's lubber season again! We spray 2 and 3 times a day to avoid invasion and losing our gardens. (We are surrounded by the Everglades. I hear the Lubber has no know enemies to boot!

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Sicula North Port, FL(Zone 9b) Apr 27, 2011

I'm seeing them too. Last year I read that they are the Argiope spider's food of preference. Saw several of them fall prey to these huge spiders. (no love loss there!) of course they just help the Argiopes get huge!

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cyberageous Everglades, FL(Zone 10a) Apr 30, 2011

I'll take that spider any day! (I think)

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