Brachystola magna

Brachystola magna, commonly known as the Plains lubber or Western lubber grasshopper, is one of the heaviest grasshopper species in North America, with adults reaching body lengths of about 4 to 6 centimeters. Females are substantially larger and heavier than males, and their bulky, flightless bodies can weigh several grams.

No, Brachystola magna is entirely flightless. Its wings are reduced to short, non-functional stubs that cover only a small portion of its large, heavy abdomen, leaving it to move exclusively by walking or clumsy hopping over short distances.

Brachystola magna can occasionally reach locally high densities and feed on crops, but it is generally not considered a major agricultural pest like migratory species such as the desert locust. Its flightless nature limits its ability to cause widespread damage, though it can defoliate garden plants and some field crops in the central United States and Mexico when populations spike.

The Plains lubber is a broad generalist herbivore that feeds on grasses, forbs, and shrubs, with a particular fondness for plants in the sunflower family. In areas with agriculture, it has been known to consume cotton, alfalfa, and various vegetable crops, using its powerful mandibles to chew tough plant material.