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5d ago

Study Captures Hot-Pink Katydid Turning Green in Days

Researchers say the rare observation may reflect adaptive camouflage that tracks the color of young rainforest leaves, a hypothesis that awaits broader testing.

Arota festae before transformation. (Credit: University of St Andrews, University of Reading, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and University of Amsterdam.)

Overview

  • The findings, published March 7, 2026 in Ecology, document an Arota festae shifting from hot pink to green under natural ambient conditions.
  • Scientists spotted the adult female on March 27, 2025 at Barro Colorado Island in Panama and photographed it daily while in captivity.
  • The insect’s pink hue faded after four days and it was completely green by April 7, 2025, becoming indistinguishable from typical individuals.
  • The team proposes the color shift may mimic new leaves that flush red or pink before greening, reframing long-reported pink morphs as potential camouflage rather than anomalies.
  • This appears to be the first recorded full color change within a single life stage in a katydid, though the conclusion is based on a single individual and the authors call for further field and experimental tests.