These Eastern Lubber (Romalea microptera (Beauvois)), flightless grasshoppers were captured in the process of procreating this morning, atop one of the Roselle bushes (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Many lubbers have moved onto our sandhill following the copious rains from Tropical Storm Fay of last week.Eastern lubber grasshoppers are found throughout the Florida. There is a single generation annually, but nymphs or adults are present throughout most of the year in the southern portions of Florida, and all except the coldest months in northern Florida. Both sexes stridulate by rubbing the forewing against the hind wing. When alarmed, lubbers spread their wings, hiss, and secrete foul-smelling froth from their spiracles. Lubbers prefer to inhabit low, moist areas of dense undergrowth including wet hammocks with moderately dense overstory, but as they mature they disperse widely and can be found in nearly all habitats.
Easter lubber grasshoppers have a broad host range. They eat at least 26 species from 15 plant families including shrubs, herbs, broadleaf weeds, and grasses. They are reported to display preference for pokeweed (Phytolaca americana), tread-softly (Cnidoscolus stimmulosus), pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), lizard's tail (Saururus sp.), sedge (Cyperus), and arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.).
Though the preferred habitat seems to be low, wet areas in pastures and woods and along ditches, lubbers disperse long distances during the nymphal period. They are gregarious and flightless, their migrations sometimes bringing large numbers into contact with crops where they damage vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental plants. Thus, despite an apparent preference for moist areas, they can be found in nearly all habitats.