Scientists stunned as pink katydid transforms into green camouflage
Scientists stunned as pink katydid transforms into green camouflage | ScienceDaily Science News from research organizations Scientists stunned as pink katydid transforms into green camouflage Date: May 2, 2026 Source: University of Reading Summary: A bizarre rainforest insect is rewriting what scientists thought they knew about camouflage. A katydid spotted glowing hot pink in Panama stunned researchers when it slowly transformed into green in just 11 days, perfectly mirroring the life cycle of tropical leaves that emerge pink before maturing. What once seemed like a rare genetic oddity now appears to be a clever survival trick, allowing the insect to blend in as its leafy surroundings change. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Arota festae before transformation. Credit: University of St Andrews, University of Reading, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and University of Amsterdam Scientists have discovered a tropical insect that can shift its color from bright hot pink to green in about two weeks. Researchers believe this dramatic transformation helps it resemble the young leaves of rainforest plants, which often start out pink before turning green. The discovery, reported this week in the journal Ecology , centers on arota festae , a leaf-mimicking katydid also known as a "bush cricket." This species is found in parts of Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, and Suriname. A Rare Observation in Panama The unusual color change was first noticed when researchers found an adult female at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's field station on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. When she was initially seen under a light, her color was a striking hot pink. Just eleven days later, she had become fully green. Mimicking Leaf Color Changes in the Rainforest A team from the University of St Andrews, University of Reading, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the University of Amsterdam suggests tha
Can anyone recommend more reading on this?
Adding my 2 cents — great post.
Shared this with my colleagues. Important stuff.
Finally some good coverage on this.
I'm skeptical but intrigued.