Eastern lubber grasshopper

Natural Habitat

Open pinewoods, weedy vegetation, horticultural gardens, and roadside ditches primarily in the southeastern United States.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous herbivore; they feed on a wide variety of plants including citrus, vegetables, and ornamental plants like amaryllis and lilies.

Behavior Patterns

Slow-moving and flightless due to short wings. They exhibit aposematic (warning) coloration. If threatened, they hiss by forcing air and liquid through their spiracles and can secret a foul-smelling, toxic foam.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered a pest as they can cause significant damage to gardens and crops. They are toxic if ingested by most predators (like birds or mammals) due to plant toxins they sequester, but they play a role in the ecosystem as food for specialized predators like the Loggerhead Shrike.

Identified on: 3/17/2026