Pink grasshopper found in marshes

I WANT THIS TO BE MY NEW PET! 

I will name her Gajendra which means elephant king.

 

An "unusual" pink grasshopper has been discovered during a wildlife event at a Devon nature reserve.

The insect was found by 11-year-old Daniel Tate at Seaton Marshes near Sidmouth.

He said he thought it was a flower until he saw it jump and then he realised it was a grasshopper.

The insect was later identified by wildlife officers as a young adult meadow grasshopper, which has been born pink through genetic mutation.

Daniel, who attended the "mini-beasts" event with his great grandfather, said: "I was looking for grasshoppers when I saw something pink.

"I thought it was a flower but I saw it moving, so I tried to catch it. It jumped and then I knew it was a grasshopper."

James Chubb, education ranger for East Devon District Council, said: "There are billions of meadow grasshoppers across England but this is the first pink one I have ever seen.

"It is caused by a genetic mutation in its reproductive cycle.

"It's almost a full adult, so if it has survived this long being bright pink there is a chance it will live to reproduce and pass on its pink gene."

He said grasshoppers of different colours were "unusual" but not unheard of.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8246902.stm