Rare Pink Grasshoppers Discovered in UK Garden, Occurring Once in 500,000

Natasha Welch, a 61-year-old resident of Shepton Mallet, UK, discovered six bright pink grasshoppers in her garden, a phenomenon experts say is extremely rare. The unusual coloration is due to a genetic mutation called erythrism, which causes an overproduction of red pigment. Specialists estimate the chance of encountering such pink grasshoppers at about one in 500,000.

The species involved is the common green or brown field grasshopper widespread across the UK, making the pink coloration particularly striking. Welch first noticed a single pink grasshopper last year but this year found several young pink grasshoppers, which she hopes will survive to adulthood. She attributes their survival partly to her garden conditions, including limited bird presence due to her cats and infrequent lawn mowing.

After photographing the insects, Welch sent the images to the Somerset Wildlife Trust, which confirmed the rarity of the sighting. The pink grasshoppers remained in the same garden area for weeks, and Welch's 26-year-old son was even able to hold some on his fingers. This discovery highlights a rare natural genetic anomaly in a common insect species in the UK.

Summary: Natasha Welch found six rare pink grasshoppers in her UK garden, a genetic mutation occurring in about one in 500,000 grasshoppers, confirmed by wildlife experts.