Romalea

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Romalea
Two eastern Lubber grasshopers (Romalea microptera), mating.jpg
R. microptera, mating
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Romaleidae
Subfamily: Romaleinae
Tribe: Romaleini
Genus: Romalea
Serville, 1831
Species:
R. microptera
Binomial name
Romalea microptera
(Palisot de Beauvois, 1817)
Synonyms
  • Rhomalea gigantea Burmeister, 1838
  • Romalea gloveri Kirby, 1910
  • Romalea guttata (Stoll, 1813)
  • Romalea marci Serville, 1838
  • Dictyophorus reticulatus (Thunberg, 1815)

Romalea is a genus of grasshoppers native to the Southeastern and South-central United States. 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.[1] It can reach nearly 3 inches (8 cm) in size.

It is the type genus and species of the relatively new family Romaleidae and tribe Romaleini, and was long known as Romalea microptera before being moved to Romalea guttata.[2] After new research, though, the remaining names (including guttata) have been marked as nomina oblita and microptera takes priority once more.[3]

Lifecycle[]

Adult stage (bottom) and nymph stage (top)

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 2.5–3 in (64–76 mm), 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 cheval-diable. The insect is also colloquially known as a "graveyard grasshopper". In Mississippi, they are known as the "giant locust".[4]

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. Sometimes, these grasshoppers live in sewers, since grass and other food sources accumulate there.[1]

Size and wings[]

This species can reach nearly 3 in (76 mm) 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.[1]

Defense[]

Eastern lubber grasshopper expanding its wings

R. microptera has several defense strategies. The first is its brightly colored pattern (aposematism to warn predators 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. It also lets off a loud hissing sound that can scare animals.[1]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d C. W. Scherer (February 2008). "Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera (Beauvois) (= guttata (Houttuyn)) (Insecta: Orthoptera: Acrididae)". University of Florida.
  2. ^ D. K. M. Kevan (1980). "Romalea guttata (Houttuyn), name change for well-known "eastern lubber grasshopper" (Orthoptera: Romaleidae)". Entomological News. 91 (4): 139–140.
  3. ^ "Species Romalea microptera - Eastern Lubber Grasshopper". Bugguide.net. August 1, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Richard Fox (October 6, 2006). "Romalea microptera, Eastern Lubber Grasshopper". Invertebrate Anatomy Online. Lander University. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2011.

External links[]

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