Lubber Grasshopper: The Clumsy Giant in Your Garden

That Huge Black Grasshopper on Your Japanese Maple

If a massive, flightless grasshopper—black, yellow, or orange depending on stage—appeared on your plants, it's the eastern lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera). Nymphs are often black with yellow/red markings; adults are yellow with black spots and tiny wings.

Key Traits

• Size: 2.5–3+ inches long
• Cannot fly; "lub" (clumsy crawl/hop) along
• Generalist feeders: crinum lily, pokeweed, vegetable leaves, amaryllis
• Aposematic coloration warns predators of toxicity
• One generation per year; eggs overwinter in soil

Management

Hand-picking is the best control—drop into soapy water. Insecticides are largely ineffective due to size and cuticle thickness. They're rarely numerous enough to cause severe defoliation.