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Romalea Guttata
I went to Animal Kingdom at Disney World and look what I got a pic of! Needless to say, as I was snapping away, I was getting all sorts of weird looks. Said to be the most distinctive grasshopper species in the southeastern United States. It is well known both for its size and its unique coloration. Not a good flyer; wings are rarely more than half the length of the abdomen. It can't jump very far either and quite clumsy. Interesting: The word "Lubber" is from and old English word "lobre" which means lazy and clumsy. So my question is: if this grasshopper is so clumsy and lazy, why does is cause so much damage to the citrus and vegetable crops? It seems this grasshopper is an easy target. I found out it has many defenses; emits a foul-smelling and foul-tasting secretion if it is disturbed and it lets out a loud hissing sound that can scare animals. Even though it's not poisonous, its bright colors can a poisonous warning that to other animals.
They are found in open pinewoods, citrus fields, weedy vegetation, and weedy fields. Wiki states the grasshopper's location is west of North Carolina to Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, and Arizona.
Spotted on Aug 4, 2013
Submitted on Aug 4, 2013
4 Comments
Thank you larkinpb!
Thanks Jemma. I hadn't put much thought into the name but you're right; lousy name. If it's not a good flyer, an easy target, and by all the pics I've seen on the Internet, mating all the time, how can it be lazy?!
Of course ,if is not a good flyer it can become an easy target. I did see a similar grasshopper out here,It had beautiful coloration. I wish it was not named Lubber, Like it says it means Lazy and clumsy! Why label it such ? All it's life it has to live with that!
unique coloration!!