Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Brachystola magna) is a member of the Romaleidae family within the order Orthoptera. It is a large, flightless or short-winged insect native to the arid regions and prairies of North America. Due to its size and appetite, it is frequently documented as a significant pest in agricultural settings located near its natural habitats.

This pest affects a wide range of agricultural crops, including small grains, corn, sunflowers, and legumes such as soybeans and alfalfa. Its polyphagous nature allows it to switch between hosts easily, which makes the management of this species challenging for farmers during years of high population density.

The life cycle of Brachystola magna consists of a single generation per year. The insect overwinters in the egg stage, buried in the soil by females during late summer. Nymphs emerge in the spring, feeding on vegetation as they grow through several instar stages before becoming adults, which are typically clumsy in movement and depend on walking or hopping rather than flight.

The damage caused by this grasshopper is characterized by the consumption of leaves, stalks, and reproductive parts of the host plants. Heavy feeding can lead to significant defoliation and mechanical injury to stems, which hampers plant growth and may eventually cause total loss in localized patches. In severe outbreaks, they can quickly strip entire fields of green biomass.

Effective management strategies for Brachystola magna focus on early detection and targeted interventions. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices include:

• Monitoring crop edges during the nymph emergence stage in late spring.
• Applying registered insecticides when population thresholds are exceeded.
• Utilizing tillage practices to disrupt soil where egg-laying sites are concentrated.
• Managing surrounding vegetation to limit the availability of alternate food sources.