Pink Katydid Makes Rare Appearance At Lake County Forest Preserves

While hiking at Middlefork Savanna last weekend during the Lake County Forest Presderves' Phenology and Photography workshop, Allison Frederick, an environmental communications specialist with the LCFD, found a very rare pink katydid.

First discovered back in 1887, the pink katydid is so rare that they occur once out of every 500 individuals. This coloration is the result of a condition called erythrism, similar to the recessive gene that afflicts albino animals.

Katydids are large, leaf-shaped and usually green. They are named after a song they sing: katy did katy did katy did. Their green skin makes them somewhat hard to find for insect-chowing predators. But the pink ones are not afforded the same luxury.