Natasha Welch, 61, recently discovered an exceptionally rare sight in her garden in Shepton Mallet, Somerset: six pink grasshoppers. While green meadow grasshoppers are common in the UK, their typical coloration is green or brown. The rare pink hue is believed to be caused by a genetic mutation called erythrism, which leads to an overproduction of red pigment.
Experts estimate that only about one in 500,000 grasshoppers are born with this coloration, making the chance of encountering one in a lifetime approximately one percent. Welch first spotted a single pink grasshopper in June 2025 and was surprised to find several more this year. She suspects the young grasshoppers hatched this year from eggs laid by a larger one the previous year.
Welch, an avid nature enthusiast, described the insects as "absolutely tiny," with the largest measuring about one centimeter. She has taken photographs of the grasshoppers and shared them with the Somerset Wildlife Trust, who confirmed the rarity of the insects. Her son, Jordan, has been able to handle the grasshoppers, which seem to remain in a specific area of the garden.
Welch attributes the grasshoppers' apparent comfort in her garden to the presence of her four cats, which deter birds, and her infrequent mowing of the lawn. She expressed hope that the grasshoppers will survive and grow to full size. The insects have remained in the same area of her garden for weeks, leading her to believe they are settled there. 
