CLOSED: grasshopper type insect invading garden

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buenavistahh Holly Hill, FL Mar 14, 2012

every spring i see a LOT of small insects congregating close together on what seems any plant availabel. i don't have a picture, but they are small, about 1/2 inch,black in color with an orange stripe down the back.they have 2front and 2back legs, also what looks like 2 folded in wings near the hind end, also 2 antennae (?) at the head.they hop around when approached.any idea what they are?

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Mar 14, 2012

Possibly young nymphs of the eastern lubber grasshopper - http://www.flickr.com/photos/dejeuxx/3409466146/
The dorsal stripe can vary from yellow to brick red.

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buenavistahh Holly Hill, FL Mar 14, 2012

thank you, that is what is on my plants!!(nymphs of the eastern lubber grasshopper) i have not investigated any further yet, so does anyone know if these are harmful to plants? i live in florida, so far they are on my spiderworts and liriope

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Mar 14, 2012

See http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/lubber.htm for a University of Florida fact sheet.

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buenavistahh Holly Hill, FL Mar 15, 2012

thank you for info, i'm all set now, except for controlling the nymph's!! much appreciated

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ncaptiva Fort Myers, FL Mar 17, 2012

These things are really fascinating to me. I'm in south Florida & I've seen these on our property my whole life. They're apparently poisonous to other creatures, so nothing eats them. I have yet to find anything that will eat them... fish won't, spiders won't (not even banana spiders, which I've tested several times!), etc. They come back as HUGE, beautiful grasshoppers in all the colors of fall leaves. In fact, if you look at my past posts, I responded to another person who posted a photo of an adult, and I posted another photo of my own in response.

Also, FYI, if you handle them, they have this black, tobacco-like spit... fair warning (lol).

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