‘Exceptionally rare’ pink grasshopper spotted in New Zealand

An “exceptionally rare” pink grasshopper has been spotted basking in the sun alongside a river in New Zealand’s South Island. A group of department of conservation researchers were conducting their annual grasshopper survey near Lake Tekapo in the MacKenzie basin when they came across the dark pink female critter. The species – the robust grasshopper – is native to New Zealand, and the country’s largest lowland grasshopper. It is typically grey or brown, like the river stones of the only area they inhabit, the edges of the braided rivers of MacKenzie basin. “I’d heard rumours about a pink one but never seen one myself,” said Jen Schori, a department of conservation ranger involved in the survey. Related: Bee-elzebub: new horned ‘Lucifer’ bee discovered in Western Australia “It was so exciting. Pink grasshoppers are exceptionally rare.” The pink hue is thought to be caused by a genetic mutation called erythrism, which results in an over production of red pigment and less of the usual natural pigment, Schori said. There are thought to be just 250-1,000 of the nationally endangered adult robust grasshoppers left, the department said, with the species risk from habitat loss, climate warming and predators. The females are about double the size of the males, and need a lot of sun to get warm enough to feed and mature eggs. “These grasshoppers are so unique. They look almost prehistoric,” she said. They are also known to be clumsy. While they are excellent jumpers in open habitat, they are terrible at landing, Schori said, adding they were also incredibly vulnerable, which was especially concerning for the pink insect. “The pink one will unfortunately stand out even more to predators, which is why this sighting is so special,” she said. In 2018, a small area of the grasshopper’s habitat was enclosed within a predator exclusion fence, in what is thought to be the world’s first insect sanctuary. The pink grasshopper was found outside the fence and would “have to fend for herself”. “They do live up to their name, they’re quite robust and the females are double the size of the males, Schori said. “Maybe she will breed, and we will see some more pink ones.”