Shepton Mallet gardener discovers thriving colony of rare pink grasshoppers

A gardener from Shepton Mallet has made a remarkable discovery in her own backyard: a flourishing colony of rare pink grasshoppers. Natasha Welch observed the distinctive insects, which show their striking colouration due to a genetic variation, and recorded her findings before contacting the Somerset Wildlife Trust. What makes the discovery especially significant is that Welch has not only located individual pink grasshoppers, but has observed baby nymphs thriving in her garden—a development she refers to as a “once-in-a-lifetime find”. The striking insects are ordinarily spotted and preyed upon by birds almost immediately, as their striking pink colour prevents them from blending into their surroundings, making encounters with these distinctive grasshoppers exceptionally uncommon in the wild.

A surprising discovery in the garden

Welch first became aware of a lone pink grasshopper in her garden during 2025, but this year the situation has shifted significantly. Walking through her uncut grass, she comes across numerous baby grasshoppers scattered throughout the vegetation. The gardener attributes the colony’s survival to the protective environment her property offers. With four cats roaming the grounds, birds are effectively deterred from entering the garden, removing the primary predatory threat that usually wipes out pink grasshopper populations within days of their appearance.

Anne Halpin from the Somerset Wildlife Trust confirms that whilst the genetic mutation creating pink colouration is not particularly rare in itself, the actual discovery of living pink grasshoppers remains remarkably exceptional. The mutation inhibits successful concealment, rendering the insects exposed to predators. Halpin suggests that Welch’s overgrown grass and feline guardians have established optimal circumstances for the colony to thrive. She stresses that keeping grass at different lengths and varied plant life encourages grasshopper numbers, noting that “variety is the spice of life” when cultivating wildlife-friendly gardens.

• Pink grasshoppers derive their colour to a hereditary variation
• Birds regularly feed on pink grasshoppers because of poor colour blending
• Four cats in the garden deter birds from hunting
• Uncut grass supplies vital habitat for grasshopper juveniles

Examining the DNA alteration that causes the colour

The remarkable pink coloring displayed by the grasshoppers in Welch’s garden originates from a hereditary change that alters the insects’ inherent coloration. According to the Somerset Wildlife Trust, whilst this particular mutation is not particularly rare at the DNA level, its observable appearance in living grasshoppers remains exceptionally uncommon. The mutation represents a inherent diversity in the grasshopper population, yet one that holds considerable ecological consequences for affected individuals. Scientists and naturalists view such observations important in understanding genetic diversity within insect populations and the wider environmental influences that affect how species survive.

Anne Halpin from the Somerset Wildlife Trust highlights that the mutation itself happens fairly regularly within grasshopper populations, but the chances of humans actually observing affected insects are very small. Most pink grasshoppers fail to survive to adulthood, their vivid appearance making them simple pickings for bird predators. The circumstance that Welch’s garden has enabled the production of multiple pink grasshopper nymphs constitutes an unusual occurrence. Her property has essentially created a refuge where this genetic mutation can survive and breed, giving researchers and wildlife observers a rare opportunity to study these unusual insects in the wild.

Why pink grasshoppers rarely survive in the wild

The vibrant pink hue that makes these grasshoppers notably conspicuous to human observers at the same time renders them highly susceptible to predation. Grasshoppers typically rely on cryptic colouration—earthy greens and browns—to merge effortlessly with vegetation and soil, enabling them to conceal themselves from predators. Pink grasshoppers lack this essential camouflage advantage, appearing strikingly obvious against their surroundings. Birds, the main hunters of grasshoppers, quickly spot these colourful insects and consume them. This hunting pressure means that pink grasshoppers seldom live long enough to reach reproductive maturity in standard garden and wild environments.

The outstanding circumstances in Welch’s Somerset garden have produced a protective bubble for these genetically unusual insects. With four cats monitoring the property, songbirds are largely prevented from entering the space where the grasshoppers prosper. Additionally, the long grass provides thick shelter and rich foliage for the nymphs to hide within. Without these safeguarding elements—the lack of bird predators and the prevalence of uncut grass—pink grasshoppers would very likely be located and preyed upon within days of hatching, making Welch’s successful community a genuinely remarkable natural occurrence.

Establishing the ideal environment for grasshopper thriving

Natasha Welch’s discovery has inadvertently demonstrated how garden management practices can significantly impact wildlife populations. Her approach to maintaining her garden—allowing grass to remain long and maintaining a cat-dominated environment—has created ideal conditions for grasshoppers to thrive. Anne Halpin from Somerset Wildlife Trust highlights that this outcome, whilst beneficial to the pink grasshoppers, is not accidental. Gardens that remain relatively unmown provide essential shelter, breeding grounds, and food sources for grasshoppers and numerous additional invertebrate species. The tall vegetation offers protection from predators whilst simultaneously supporting the diverse plant life upon which grasshoppers depend for sustenance.

For gardeners interested in supporting grasshopper populations, the principles are straightforward yet often overlooked in modern horticultural practice. Rather than keeping the neatly trimmed grass traditionally favoured by British homeowners, letting areas of grass develop naturally establishes microhabitats where insects can flourish. The presence of Welch’s four cats, whilst not intentionally part of a conservation strategy, has proven crucial for protecting the grasshoppers from bird attacks. This mix of elements—less frequent cutting, natural vegetation growth, and limited bird access—has transformed an ordinary Somerset garden into an exceptional refuge for these remarkable pink insects.

• Allow grass to reach full height in designated areas of your garden for protection
• Keep a variety of grass heights to benefit different types of insects
• Reduce pesticide use to preserve the insects grasshoppers depend upon
• Plant diverse vegetation including shrubs and wildflowers throughout your space
• Avoid heavy-handed gardening practices that damage grasshopper habitats

The role of habitat diversity in gardens

Anne Halpin promotes a more varied approach to landscape design, shifting beyond the monoculture of tightly mown lawns. She emphasises that grasshoppers, like most wildlife species, benefit enormously from habitat diversity. A garden featuring a combination of tall and short grass, interwoven with shrubs, trees, and wildflowers, gives grasshoppers multiple environmental spaces. Different plant species supply diverse nutrition, shelter options, and breeding grounds. This botanical diversity forms a stable habitat where grasshoppers can find everything essential to survival and reproduction, independent of seasonal changes or environmental pressures.

The principle of variety extends beyond mere aesthetics; it constitutes a fundamental ecological principle that benefits the entire garden ecosystem. Gardens with varied vegetation types sustain higher populations of insects, which in turn draw in birds and various wildlife species. Halpin’s observation that “variety is the spice of life” encapsulates this approach perfectly. By introducing different vegetation types and keeping varied grass heights, gardeners establish environments where grasshoppers and countless other species can coexist successfully. Such gardens become self-supporting ecosystems where predator and prey interactions remain balanced, enabling even rare genetic traits like pink grasshoppers to occasionally persist and flourish.

Professional perspectives provided by Somerset Wildlife Trust

Anne Halpin from the Somerset Wildlife Trust has offered key understanding into the extraordinary find of pink grasshoppers flourishing in the garden of Welch. Whilst the genetic mutation responsible for the distinctive colouration of the insects is fairly common in nature, genuinely spotting pink grasshoppers alive in the natural environment represents an exceptionally uncommon event. Halpin explained that grasshoppers remain inherently cryptic creatures, depending on camouflage to hide from predators because they constitute a tasty meal for many bird species. The vivid pink colour greatly undermines this defence strategy provided by nature, rendering survival in standard habitats essentially unachievable. These creatures are typically seen and eaten by avian predators almost immediately, rendering any observation a authentic “once-in-a-lifetime find” for most observers.

The presence of several pink grasshoppers in Welch’s Somerset garden indicates that specific environmental factors have established an unusually protective habitat. Halpin theorises that the four cats living there may be contributing substantially in keeping birds away from entering the garden, thereby reducing predation pressure on the vulnerable pink insects. Additionally, Welch’s habit of allowing grass to grow naturally rather than maintaining a neatly trimmed lawn provides vital shelter and sustenance for grasshoppers. This combination of factors—fewer birds present and abundant natural vegetation—has seemingly created circumstances suitable enough for pink grasshoppers not only to survive but also to reproduce successfully, generating multiple juvenile grasshoppers throughout the growing season.