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''Romalea'' is a genus of grasshoppers native to the Southeastern and
''R. microptera'' grows 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, it reaches , grows wings half the length of its 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 '. The insect is also colloquially known as a "graveyard grasshopper". In Mississippi, they are known as the "giant locust".
''R. microptera'' has several defense strategies. The first is its brightly colored pattern (
File:Eastern Lubber Grasshopper in Everglades National Park.jpg, Female eastern lubber grasshopper (''R. microptera'') in Everglades National Park, Florida
File:Romaleidae - Romalea guttata.jpg, Close-up of ''R. microptera'' from the
South-central United States
The South Central United States or South Central states is a region in the south central portion of the Southern United States. It evolved out of the Old Southwest, which originally was the western portion of the South. The states of Arkansas, ...
. Its single species is ''Romalea microptera'', known commonly as the eastern lubber grasshopper, Florida lubber, or Florida lubber grasshopper. It is the most distinctive grasshopper species within the Southeastern US, and is well known for its size and its unique coloration. It can reach nearly in size.
It is the type genus and species of the relatively new family Romaleidae
The Romaleidae or lubber grasshoppers are a family of grasshoppers, based on the type genus ''Romalea''. The species in this family can be found in the Americas.
Tribes and selected genera
The Orthoptera Species File Online database lists two s ...
and tribe Romaleini, and was long known as ''Romalea microptera'' before being moved to ''Romalea guttata''. After new research, though, the remaining names (including ''guttata'') have been marked as ''nomina oblita'' and ''microptera'' takes priority once more.
Lifecycle
''R. microptera'' grows 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, it reaches , grows wings half the length of its 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 '. The insect is also colloquially known as a "graveyard grasshopper". In Mississippi, they are known as the "giant locust".
Range
''R. microptera'' inhabits regions west of North Carolina to Tennessee, in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, and throughout Florida, Missouri, and Arizona. They live in open pinewoods, weedy vegetation, and weedy fields.Size and wings
This species can reach nearly in size. Their wings are rarely half the length of the abdomen; most of the time, they are much smaller, and cannot be used for flight.Defense
''R. microptera'' has several defense strategies. The first is its brightly colored pattern (aposematism
Aposematism is the advertising by an animal to potential predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. This unprofitability may consist of any defences which make the prey difficult to kill and eat, such as toxicity, venom, foul taste or ...
) to warn predators that it is unpleasant eating. The second is that it emits a foul-smelling and foul-tasting, foamy secretion from its thorax when it is disturbed. The secretion is dark colored and opaque. The final strategy is that it lets off a loud hissing sound which can scare animals.
Gallery
Everglades
The Everglades is a natural region of tropical climate, tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large drainage basin within the Neotropical realm. The system begins near Orland ...
File:Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Nymph.jpg, Nymph ''R. microptera'' with its characteristic black and yellow-striped body
File:Eastern Lubber Grasshopper.jpg, Lubber grasshopper, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Delray, Florida
File:Romalea microptera UMFS 2016 3.jpg, Adult dark morph, University of Mississippi Field Station
File:Romalea microptera Fort Myers FL.jpg, ''R. microptera'', Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
File:Romalea microptera (eastern lubber grasshopper).jpg, ''R. microptera'' at Bear Island Campground in the Big Cypress National Preserve
References
External links
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q310265, from2=Q14285676 Romaleidae Orthoptera of North America Insects described in 1817