How to Safely Remove Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers from Your Yard

Eastern lubber grasshoppers (Romalea microptera) are large, colorful insects commonly found in the southeastern United States. While their striking appearance can be fascinating, these grasshoppers are notorious for damaging gardens and landscaping by feeding on a wide variety of plants. If left unchecked, they can quickly become a nuisance, causing significant harm to your yard’s vegetation.

Fortunately, there are safe and effective ways to control and remove eastern lubber grasshoppers from your property without harming the environment or beneficial insects. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to identify these pests, understand their behavior, and implement strategies to safely manage their population.

Identifying Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers

Before attempting removal, it’s important to confirm that the insects in your yard are indeed eastern lubber grasshoppers. Here are some key identification features:

• Size: Adults range from 2 to 3 inches long, making them one of the largest grasshopper species in the U.S.
• Color: Typically black with bright yellow, orange, or red markings on their thorax and wings. Juveniles (nymphs) may be yellow or orange with black stripes.
• Wings: Their wings are short and do not enable flight.
• Distinctive Smell: When disturbed, they emit a strong, unpleasant odor as a defense mechanism.
• Behavior: They move slowly compared to other grasshoppers and tend to stay close to the ground.

Understanding what you’re dealing with will help you choose the most appropriate removal methods.

Why Remove Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers?

While fascinating insects, eastern lubbers can cause several issues in your yard:

• Plant Damage: They chew on leaves, flowers, stems, and fruit, which can stunt plant growth or kill young plants.
• Rapid Reproduction: Females lay large egg masses that hatch into many nymphs, leading to rapid population growth.
• Pest Attraction: Damaged plants may attract other pests or diseases.
• Aesthetic Concerns: Their presence and damage reduce the beauty of your garden or lawn.

For gardeners and homeowners aiming for healthy vegetation, controlling lubbers is essential.

Safe Methods for Removing Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers

When it comes to pest control, safety should always be a priority—for you, your family, pets, and the environment. Here are eco-friendly strategies for managing eastern lubbers:

1. Manual Removal

The simplest and safest way to reduce their numbers is by handpicking:

• Pick Them Off Plants: Wear gloves and gently remove grasshoppers from affected plants.
• Drop Into Soapy Water: Place them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them humanely.
• Regular Monitoring: Inspect your garden daily during peak activity in late summer.

This method is practical for small infestations and helps avoid chemical use.

2. Encourage Natural Predators

Nature provides several biological controls that naturally reduce lubber populations:

• Birds: Encourage insect-eating birds like robins, blue jays, and sparrows by installing bird feeders or birdbaths.
• Predatory Insects: Ladybugs, ground beetles, and spiders prey on eggs and nymphs.
• Small Mammals and Amphibians: Frogs and lizards also consume grasshoppers.

Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides that can kill these beneficial creatures; instead, create habitats that attract them.

3. Use Barriers and Repellents

Physical barriers can prevent lubbers from reaching your plants:

• Row Covers: Lightweight fabric covers can exclude grasshoppers while allowing light and water through.
• Sticky Bands: Applying sticky tape around plant stems traps climbing nymphs.

Natural repellents may also deter grasshoppers:

• Neem Oil Sprays: Neem acts as a feeding deterrent and disrupts insect growth.
• Garlic or Hot Pepper Sprays: Homemade sprays made with garlic or chili peppers can repel insects.

Apply repellents in the early morning or late evening to minimize impact on pollinators.

4. Maintain Garden Hygiene

Healthy garden practices reduce pest habitat:

• Remove Debris: Clear away fallen leaves, weeds, and plant residues that harbor eggs.
• Mow Grass Regularly: Shorter grass discourages laying eggs nearby.
• Rotate Crops: Changing plant locations yearly disrupts pest life cycles.

By reducing suitable habitats, you limit population buildup.

5. Biological Control Agents

If natural predators aren’t enough, consider introducing biological agents:

• Nosema locustae: A microsporidian parasite used as a biological pesticide specific for grasshoppers.
• Milky Spore Disease (Paenibacillus popilliae): Targets related pests but sometimes effective against grasshoppers.

These agents infect or kill grasshopper populations without harming other wildlife or plants. They require some time to establish but provide long-term control.

6. Use Targeted Organic Insecticides

As a last resort for larger infestations:

• Choose organic insecticides like Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Bt-k), which is effective against certain insect larvae but less harmful to others.
• Apply insecticidal soaps or spinosad-based products following label instructions carefully.

Avoid broad-spectrum chemical pesticides as they may harm beneficial insects or contaminate soil and water.

Additional Tips for Effective Control

To maximize success in removing eastern lubber grasshoppers:

• Start control efforts early in the season before large populations develop.
• Combine multiple methods — manual removal plus encouraging predators plus barriers — for best results.
• Monitor your yard regularly throughout spring and summer when eggs hatch into nymphs.
• Use lights at night cautiously; bright lights attract adult grasshoppers but also beneficial insects.
• Educate neighbors about identification and prevention; community-wide efforts reduce overall infestations.

Conclusion

Eastern lubber grasshoppers can be challenging garden pests due to their size and voracious appetite. However, employing safe removal strategies focused on manual picking, encouraging natural enemies, using physical barriers, maintaining garden cleanliness, applying biological controls, and careful use of organic insecticides will help you protect your yard effectively without harming the environment.

By taking proactive measures early in the season and staying vigilant throughout the growing months, you can enjoy a healthy garden free of eastern lubber damage while supporting local biodiversity. Safe pest management means happier plants—and a happier yard!