Species Romalea microptera - Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Gryllus (Locusta) guttatus, Houttuyn, 1813, described from Georgia

Dictyophorus reticulatus Thunberg, 1815, described from "western America" (in error)

Acridium micropterum Beauvois, 1817, described from South Carolina

Romalea marci Serville, 1838, described from South Carolina

Dictyophorus marci (Serville) Pictet & Saussure, 1887

Dictyophorus micropterus (Beauvois) Pictet & Saussure, 1887

Dictyophorus guttatus (C. Stoll) Rehn, J.A.G. & Hebard, 1905

Romalea gloveri W. F. Kirby, 1910, described from Missouri (perhaps in error)

Romalea microptera (Beauvois) Rehn, J.A.G. & Hebard, 1912

Romalea guttata (C. Stoll) Vickery & D.K.M. Kevan, 1983

Romalea microptera and Romalea guttata seem to be inseparable synonyms. David J. Ferguson gives some of the history (summarized from an e-mail to P. Coin 6 February 2008):

The name Romalea microptera was granted the status of nomen protectum by the commision on zoological nomenclature--this would gives it official status as the valid name. (This is also the name used by Orthoptera Species File.) The names guttatus & reticulatus have been given the status of nomen obliteratum, which makes them officially unavailable for use.

Species name guttata is Latin for spotted. Species name microptera is from micro-, small, plus pteron wing, both Greek (Internet searches).

Common name lubber means "a clumsy or lazy person" (from Middle English lobre meaning lazy, or lout, related to lob). The use for this grasshopper likely refers to their slow movements--with ample chemical defenses, this grasshopper does not need to move quickly.

45-55 mm (adult male), 50-70 mm (adult female)

Distinguished by huge size and vivid yellow/red coloration (adult, light phase, southern Florida). Flightless. More northern adults are darker. Juvenile (nymph) is black with yellow (or red) stripes, also distinctive.

Southeastern United States, including all of Florida. Only lubber in east.

Open pine woods, fields, roadsides, lawns, croplands, esp. moist areas.

All year in Florida, though not as common in winter.

Many herbs and shrubs. Favorite foods are said to include: Pokeweed, Phytolaca americana; Tread-softly, Cnidoscolus stimmulosus; Pickerel Weed, Pontederia cordata; Lizard's Tail, Saururus sp.; Sedges, Cyperus; and Arrowhead, Sagittaria sp. (Grasshoppers of Florida).

There is one generation per year. During the summer, females lay masses of about 50 eggs in soil excavations about 5 cm deep. Each female lays one to three separate masses of eggs. Eggs overwinter in the soil, with hatching in early spring. Five juvenile instars, each typically lasting 20 days, ensue. Juveniles (nymphs) tend to stick together in groups near a food source. (This probably enhances the effectiveness of their warning coloration.)

Adults are flightless. Coloration is aposematic (warning), apparently this species is distasteful to vertebrate predators. When disturbed, it will spread its wings, hiss, and secrete a smelly fluid from its spiracles (1).