Lubber Grasshopper Control

It’s that time again. Time for the giant grasshoppers in Florida. These grasshoppers are known as the Lubber Grasshopper. As the warm weather takes over our lovely Tampa Bay Area, we start to become overrun with these critters. Today, we will discuss some biology and Lubber Grasshopper Control.

Adult Lubber Grasshoppers

The adults are large, and by large, I mean huge. This giant grasshopper can grow up to 3 inches in length.

This grasshopper is native to the southeastern and south-central portion of the United States. It is the most unique grasshopper species within the southeastern United States and is well known both for its size and its unique coloration.

The good news, they do not bite. However, when alarmed the will spread their large wings, hiss, and excrete a nasty smelling froth.

Lubber Grasshopper Adult

Young Lubber Grasshoppers

The young look nothing like the adults. As you can see in the picture below, the young of this large grasshopper is blacker in color.

Like all insects, the Lubber Grasshopper goes through stages that take it from birth to adult.

When in the young stage, they are smaller than in the adult stage, wingless and completely black with one or more yellow, orange, or red stripes. In the adult stage, they reach 2.5–3 in grow wings half the length of their body and become either a dull yellow often characterized by black spots and markings, bright orange with black markings, or entirely black (as in the younger stage) with yellow or red striping.

Lubber Grasshopper Nymph

Lubber Grasshopper Breeding

Lubbers are known to lay their eggs in the summertime, and those eggs don’t hatch for about 6 to 8 months.

As per the University of Florida’s Entomology Department – “Eggs are laid in neatly arranged clusters, or pods, which consist of rows of eggs positioned parallel to one another and held together by a secretion. Normally there are 30-50 eggs in each pod.”

They start as an egg. Then, they become the young, or nymph. The young ones stay looking the same for a while but start to grow larger. Basically, the nymphs are just a smaller size than the adult. They do resemble the large grasshopper adults.

Lubber Grasshopper Damage

Defoliation is the leading cause of damage to plants by the Lubber Grasshopper. Due to their voracious appetite and sheer numbers, they can defoliate plants quickly. They jump from plant to plant devouring the leaves of the plant.

Lubber Grasshopper Control

Once this grasshopper has reached its adult stage, they are hard to kill. Should you find only a few, hand pick them to remove from your property. Should their numbers be too numerous for hand picking, then a pest control product may be needed.

Pest control products work much better on the young than the adults. Two methodologies exist. The first is bait. The young Lubber Grasshoppers feed upon this bait. Hence, reducing their population. Many companies produce grasshopper bait. Check Out Planet Natural www.planetnatural.com

There are also countless liquid insecticides on the market for control of these grasshoppers. Make sure to read and follow the directions of the product used.

And remember, by the time you see the adults, it is generally too late to gain control that season. So start early, when you first see the young. By doing so, you may actually reduce the numbers you see that year.

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