The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera or Romalea guttata) is a major garden pest across the southeastern United States. This species is easily recognizable by its massive size, reaching up to three inches long, and its slow movement. Unlike smaller grasshoppers, the lubber has a unique defense mechanism: when disturbed, it secretes a foul-smelling, toxic froth from its respiratory openings called spiracles. This toxicity, combined with its large, tough exoskeleton, is why conventional grasshopper control methods often fail.
The Critical Role of Timing in Elimination
Successful lubber grasshopper control requires intervening early in the insect’s life cycle, specifically during the nymph stage. Lubber eggs overwinter in the soil and begin to hatch in the early spring, typically from February through April. These newly hatched nymphs appear in large, distinct clusters and are much smaller and more vulnerable than the adults.
The nymphs are shiny black and often feature a prominent dorsal stripe of yellow, orange, or red. This early window is fleeting, as the developing insects are easier to kill with both physical and chemical methods. Once a lubber reaches full adult size in early summer, its hardened outer shell renders most treatments ineffective. Focusing efforts on these concentrated groups of young nymphs in the spring reduces the number of damaging adults later in the season.
Physical and Manual Removal Techniques
Physical removal is an effective control method for smaller infestations or for gardeners avoiding chemical treatments. The lubber’s slow speed and inability to fly make it an easy target for direct handling. Safety precautions are important due to the insect’s toxic defensive secretions and the potential for skin irritation.
Always wear gardening gloves when handling lubber grasshoppers to prevent contact with the noxious fluids they exude. The best method for immediate elimination is to collect the insects and submerge them in a bucket of soapy water. A solution of water and concentrated dish detergent drowns the insects by disrupting the water’s surface tension and coating their respiratory spiracles.
Alternative physical methods include crushing the insects or collecting large numbers of nymphs using a handheld vacuum or shop vac. These methods are most practical for the young, concentrated populations. While crushing adults is effective, it can be messy and leaves toxic residue, making collection and disposal into a soapy solution the preferred, cleaner approach.
Effective Chemical Control Options
Chemical interventions against lubber grasshoppers are most successful when they are precisely timed and narrowly applied. This reinforces the need to target the nymph stage. Given the adult lubber’s size and tolerance for many compounds, chemical sprays are largely ineffective once the insect matures. The most successful applications involve ingredients toxic to grasshoppers, applied directly onto the young nymphs.
Specific active ingredients known to work against lubber nymphs include:
- Permethrin
- Bifenthrin
- Esfenvalerate
- Cyhalothrin
- Carbaryl
Spinosad, a microbial product, is also an option that is generally less toxic to other organisms, though it may act more slowly on the pest. These chemicals should be applied as a spot treatment directly to the clusters of nymphs rather than broadcasting over the entire garden, as the insects are flightless and do not travel far initially.
Another targeted chemical method involves granular baits containing an active ingredient like carbaryl, which the grasshoppers consume. Because lubbers are slow-moving, treating a narrow strip along the perimeter of the garden can prevent them from entering and causing damage to desirable plants. Always read and strictly follow the label instructions, especially concerning application rates and safety around food crops or beneficial insects.