A rare bright pink grasshopper has left wildlife lovers stunned after being spotted in a garden in what experts describe as a once-in-a-lifetime find.
The eye-catching insect was discovered by Natasha Welch among plants in her garden in Taunton, Somerset.
Unlike its green cousins, the unusual grasshopper sports a striking bubblegum-pink colour caused by a rare genetic mutation known as erythrism.
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The condition affects pigmentation and is similar to albinism or melanism, where colour genes are either switched on or off, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Experts estimate that only around one in 500 grasshoppers are born pink.
Their vivid colouring may look spectacular, but it comes at a cost.
Because they stand out so clearly against grass and foliage, pink grasshoppers are far easier for predators such as birds to spot.
As a result, many do not survive for long in the wild, making sightings extremely rare.
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The remarkable discovery has fascinated nature lovers, with the brightly coloured insect standing out dramatically against its surroundings.
A spokesperson for Somerset Wildlife Trust said: “The pink colour is widely considered to be a rare genetic mutation.
“It’s akin to finding a four-leafed clover.”
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The sighting comes less than a year after another pink grasshopper was discovered hundreds of miles away.
In August last year, Paul Cleasby, 62, from Durham, spotted one at Oakenshaw Nature Reserve.
He said at the time: “I had to Google it to learn more about why it was pink.
“I couldn’t believe my luck – it really stood out among the green grass.”
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