N atureN erd By Dorothy L. Harris
The Lumbering Lubber
From humble beginnings, a small
black grasshopper marked with a yellow or orange stripe becomes a spectacular insect that demands attention. Lubber grasshoppers hatch from eggs and go through five to six molts, where their skin splits to allow a larger hopper to emerge; a yellow, black, and red giant, large enough to span the palm of an adult. Their pretty colors serve as a warning – don’t eat me! Lubber grasshoppers manufacture toxins internally as a chemical defense system.
to apply chemical agents, you should know lubbers are slow to die due to their hard exterior or exoskeleton. Chemical spraying could also impact birds, so just pick the grasshoppers off if they are bothersome, rather than risk injury to other forms of wildlife. If you have curious, insect-loving kids, lubbers can make great seasonal pets. The large lubbers are easily kept in a creature box. A wet sponge and daily, leafy garden greens is all they need to keep growing all summer long. Lubbers dine on all sorts of plants, but they are omnivorous. This means they also feed on dead insects, and even cannibalize their own species! Properly kept, lubbers will amaze you by their growth, molting, and spectacular colors.
Like a mixologist, they create a noxious blend which can be spit up to five inches away to ward off curious predators. These toxins are an important defense. Unlike most grasshoppers, this gangly lubber cannot fly.
Left Photo: The bright coloration of lubber grasshoppers warns predators of its bad taste due to internal toxins.
If you’re not fond of insects, and are tempted
Right Photo: The lubber grasshopper grows to nearly five inches in size. ,
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