Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers (Romalea microptera) are large, distinctive insects found in the southeastern United States. Their size and appearance often lead to questions about their potential danger.
Understanding Their Toxicity
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers are not considered “poisonous” in the sense of injecting venom, like a snake or spider. Instead, they are toxic due to defensive secretions they release when threatened. When disturbed, these insects exude a foul-smelling, irritating fluid from their spiracles. They can also produce a hissing sound and regurgitate a dark brown liquid, commonly referred to as “tobacco spit.”
The toxins within these secretions are a mix of chemicals that the grasshoppers either synthesize themselves or sequester from the plants they consume. These defensive chemicals are highly effective against many vertebrate predators, which quickly learn to avoid consuming the grasshoppers. Ingesting a lubber grasshopper can cause severe reactions in predators, including vomiting and, in smaller animals, even death.
For humans, direct contact with the defensive secretions can lead to skin irritation. Ingesting a lubber grasshopper, by pets or small children, can result in more severe symptoms. These symptoms might include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy. Although picking up a lubber grasshopper might not cause direct harm, the liquids they spray can stain skin or clothing.
Identification and Safe Handling
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers are easily identifiable by their substantial size and distinctive coloration. Adult males typically measure between 43 and 55 millimeters (1.7 to 2.2 inches) in length, while females are larger, often reaching 50 to 70 millimeters (2 to 2.8 inches). Their color patterns are a warning to predators, displaying aposematic (warning) coloration, frequently appearing as yellow or tawny with black markings, although some forms can be predominantly black with yellow accents. Immature nymphs are typically black with a prominent yellow, orange, or red stripe running down their backs.
Despite having wings, adult lubber grasshoppers are incapable of flight due to their large and heavy bodies. They move slowly and clumsily, primarily walking or crawling, and are not particularly agile jumpers. However, they are proficient climbers, often ascending plants to feed. These grasshoppers inhabit various environments, including open pinewoods, weedy fields, roadsides, and cultivated areas, showing a preference for moist habitats like ditches and pond edges.
Their diet is extensive, encompassing over 100 plant species from numerous families, with a preference for broad-leaf plants over grasses. Favorite food sources include pokeweed, amaryllis, crinum lily, and oleander, from which they can sequester toxins. They can cause considerable damage to ornamental plants, citrus crops, and vegetables.
When encountering these grasshoppers, it is advisable to observe them from a distance. If removal is necessary, using gloves or tools to gently relocate them is recommended to avoid contact with their defensive secretions. For effective control, hand-picking and submerging them in soapy water is a common method. If symptoms of irritation or ingestion occur, seeking medical attention is prudent.