The horse lubber grasshopper is sturdy and, though primarily black, has greenish front wings, pink back ones, yellow markings on its body, and black and orange striped antennae. It lets out a grossly rank foam when feeling threatened and apparently tastes equally terrible since few predators eat them. However, in fall when masses of horse lubbers cross the highways and are killed, those following pause to eat their crushed brethren. Besides partaking of cannibalism, these grasshoppers feed on a wide variety of plants including mesquite.