You may have seen this female katydid by now, either on a blog, in the Columbus Dispatch, or maybe even in person. I had the opportunity to observe this shockingly pink insect yesterday, courtesy of Cheryl Harner and Jim McCormac. This creature was originally found by Jan Kennedy at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area. Thanks Jan for a wonderful eye, what an amazing bug!
This is my contribution to this week's Camera Critters meme.
That is really beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWOW! WOW! A Pink Katydid??!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too cool!
ReplyDeleteVery unique. I had no idea katydids came in pink. Great photo capture.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never seen a pink "bug" before, cool:)
ReplyDeleteWOW...I've never seen anything like it! Do they wander over to Indiana, or do you keep them all there?
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool ! I had no idea they came in pink. Do you know if there are any in WV ? Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThat is a neat katydid. I have them in green but never saw a pink one. I wonder what caused that?
ReplyDeletePick a Peck of Pixels
Really amazing! My pink loving girl loves it too!
ReplyDeleteLisa :)
I can hardly believe my eyes! What a sight!
ReplyDeleteHey this is very cool, I'm from Ohio and never heard of these before. Now reside in NC and specialize in butterflies and odonates.
ReplyDeleteI've seen him on a few blogs, but every time I see him I still am amazed. He is gorgeous. Your photos of him are fantastic...and beautiful.
ReplyDeletewhat what a gorgeous pink katydid. i love her color pink. great post for this entry.
ReplyDeleteWell, it certainly is pink!
ReplyDeleteExcellent camouflage for hiding amongst Ohio's resident flamingo population.
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ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this insect, which I did not know existed, to the blog readers. I write a blog "Wildbytes from India".
ReplyDeleteTom: That is a new one to me, I have a green one on my site. It is not as shocking as yours in hot pink. (I should read before posting.)
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow! It looks like a plastic toy! I want one!
ReplyDelete:)
Chris
Thanks everyone for the comments. These pink katydid morphs are quite rare. I got to talk briefly to Wil Hershberger, who literally wrote the book on katydids. They can also come in blue and yellow morphs, and it seems like this isn't a species specific thing. It's kinda like finding an albino robin or squirrel. He was guessing, but he thought it could be a one in a million phenomenon. Word has it that this insect will be at the Ohio State Fair in the Ohio Natural Resources Park. If it will definitely be there, I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteTom
Here is an article about Pink Katydids: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/OSL/2009/September/090924OSL.html
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