I saw this foto on Reddit recently:
Is this possible? How can a grasshopper become like this? Is this just natural genetic mutation?
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asked Aug 22, 2014 at 15:11
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$\begingroup$ Genetically modified... or naturally mutated... I doubt the natural part though - given the number of genome research out there... $\endgroup$– bonCodigoCommented Aug 23, 2014 at 3:58
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$\begingroup$ Looks like a Katydid, not a grasshopper, and googling pink+katydid will get you many hits $\endgroup$– OreotrephesCommented Aug 23, 2014 at 16:33
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2 Answers
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Pink individuals of the katydid species Amblycorypha oblongifolia are a relatively uncommon but natural phenomenon with a long history of research.
It looks from popular press accounts (Science Friday, Scientific American) that the pink coloration may be caused by a dominant allele, and is only rare because of a high selection pressure against pink individuals (i.e. they're much less good at hiding among leaves, and are eaten before they can reproduce).
Photo by Richard Whitby, via flickr.com/blueboat2 (cc-by-sa 2.0)
answered Aug 23, 2014 at 16:41
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$\begingroup$ I thought I could find a pink praying mantis, but couldn't. Orchid mantis's do come in a variety of colors, and sometimes a pinkish. Since mantids are grasshoppers and katydids are related, it's not farfetched that similar genes could control coloration in all these insects. $\endgroup$– user137Commented Aug 23, 2014 at 19:50
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$\begingroup$ Can't edit the comment, mantid's aren't grasshoppers, should read ..."mantids and grasshoppers..." $\endgroup$– user137Commented Aug 23, 2014 at 21:15
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1$\begingroup$ Any idea, what kind of pigment is involved? $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2014 at 22:36
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$\begingroup$ Side-question: if you were to breed with solely pink individuals, what are the odds of the offspring to be pink as well? $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 11:31
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$\begingroup$ @StevenRoose the odds are very good – check the SciAm link where they have results of just such an experiment, looks like it's about 3:1 odds to 7:1 odds that the offpsring will be pink. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 17:23
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In response to Oreotrephes answer I see fit to point that the selective pressure against an insect being pink and a manual being pink is quite different but could also be the same.
Take our species for example: the first humans were dark skinned thought to be as a genetic advantage to our then dark forrest and tree land environment. As we evolved into a plethora of colors each equally evolved but separately specialised (to the same basic tasks) under the pressure of different environments some of us became lighter skinned and lost some of our protection from the sun. Pinkness in caucasians is common but its a genetic disadvantage due to the introduction of an extremely greater probability of Melanoma. Those with darker skin sometimes can develop Melanoma but its rare. It is thought we evolved light skin as a way of knowing we needed greater amounts of D3 in diet due to low UV environments. The same also with blue eyes the eye equivalent of whiteness (melatonin depletion).
If its evolution was simular to ours then I would suspect that your little pink insect needed a key vitamin in its diet but thats just a guess.