Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Description:

Romalea guttata goes through several stages, like all insects. When in the nymph stage, it is smaller than in the adult stage, wingless and completely black with one or more yellow, orange or red stripes. In the adult stage, they reach 2.5–3 in (64–76 mm), grow wings half the length of their body and become either a dull yellow often characterized by black spots and markings, a bright orange with black markings, or entirely black (as in the nymph stage) with yellow or red striping. In the black adult color phase, the grasshopper is widely known by the name "diablo" or "black diablo". In Louisiana, they are known as the Devil's horse or cheval-diable. The insect is also colloquially known as a "graveyard grasshopper". In Mississippi they are known as "Giant Locust" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romalea_gut...