A rare pink grasshopper has been discovered in New Zealand, offering new insights into colour mutations in insects. The Sigaus robustus, one of the country's largest grasshoppers, is typically grey or brown to blend with its stony habitat.
Department of Conservation ranger Jen Schori spotted the pink individual during a survey. The colour is caused by erythrism, a genetic mutation that leads to an overproduction of red pigment and a reduction of normal pigment.
Schori noted that the pink colour makes the grasshopper more visible to predators such as hedgehogs, cats, and birds. The species is already endangered and faces threats from habitat loss and predation.
Conservationists have erected predator exclusion fences to protect the grasshoppers, but this female was found outside a fenced area. Schori hopes the grasshopper may breed and produce more pink offspring.
