Rumour has become real for Kiwi ranger Jen Schori … a pink grasshopper basking in sunlight among rocks near Lake Tekapo in New Zealand’s South Island.
Spotted by a team that was surveying grasshopper numbers was a deep pink female robust grasshopper (Sigaus robustus).
“I’ve been studying these amazing creatures for years. They are usually grey or brown coloured like river stones,” Schori, part of the team, says.
“I’d heard rumours about a pink one but never seen one myself. It was so exciting.”
She says the pink insect is exceptionally rare and the likely result of mutation.
“It’s likely caused by a genetic mutation called erythrism which results in an over-production of red pigment and less of the usual natural pigment that the species has,” Schori says.
THE ROBUST GRASSHOPPER
The robust grasshopper is New Zealand’s largest lowland grasshopper and is only found along the edges of the braided rivers in the Mackenzie basin (a very specialised habitat of stones and boulders).
It comes in grey and rusty brown to match its habitat. It’s also classed as nationally endangered and is at risk from predators like hedgehogs, cats and birds.
There are thought to be 250-1000 mature adults left, the NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) says.
“These grasshoppers are so unique. They look almost prehistoric,” Schori says.
“They can jump fairly well but are renowned for their clumsy landings. They’re also very vulnerable.
“The pink one will unfortunately stand out even more to predators which is why this sighting is so special,” she says.
In 2018, DoC helped set up a predator exclusion fence around a small habitat in the Mackenzie basin, which it says is thought to be the world’s first fence built to protect insects.
Schori says the pink female was seen outside that fence.
“They do live up to their name; they’re quite robust and the females are double the size of the males,” she says.
“Maybe she will breed and we will see some more pink ones. She has certainly become a bit of a celebrity in our office and we joke about the paparazzi coming and taking loads of photos.
“I’m just so happy I got to see one after all these years. Getting out into nature in this part of the world is really special.”
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