Kevin Esser- Kevin Esser
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera) is very common in the Everglades and in some places they are abundant. Some gardeners probably don't like them very much. As a nature photographer, I really enjoy those colorful insects.
These giants can reach 8 cm (3 in). They are slow moving creatures, unable to fly... so good chances for nice macro shots! How does a big, slow and not camouflaged cricket survive with tons of predators around? They can emit a foul-smelling and foul-tasting foamy secretion from the thorax when they feel threatened. So the red and yellow is used as a warning coloring (aposematism).
Also very interesting is the different appearence of the young (nymph) and the adult specimen.
