By STAFF REPORTERPublished: 10 Sep 2009
A SCHOOLBOY has stumbled on a rare PINK grasshopper.
Eagle-eyed Daniel Tate, 11, was taking part in the first Minibeasts in the Marshes event at Seaton Marshes, Devon, when he came across the little hopper.
Experts say it is a common green grasshopper which just happens to be pink.
Daniel 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 so then I knew it was a grasshopper.
"I was really excited to hear that no one else had found a pink grasshopper at that place before."
James Chubb, education ranger for East Devon 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 it has survived this long being bright pink there is a chance it will live to reproduce and pass on its pink gene."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2630887/Lad-finds-rare-mutated-insect.html
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