I photographed this fellow on our wooden deck in Wexford. Is it a grasshopper and is it native? –Sara Whelan, New Ross, Co Wexford
Pink grasshoppers are very rare as the colour is caused by a genetic anomaly. A few have been seen in Britain. There was one from Greystones, Co Wicklow, in Eye on Nature last year.
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I noticed this insect on nettles at Carrickbrack, Howth. I thought it might be a bush cricket but I couldn't find it in the books. – Frank Smyth, Sutton, Dublin13
It's Roesel's bush cricket, with a local distribution in Ireland.
![](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/LBZOTBN62DZH3IRNXBSBFUYQOU.jpg?auth=c0c8912a18fb3d23ba7fd58ac1a89e37ba4e7212e871d7594729afe2f2512961&width=800&height=447)
I picked up this oyster shell, one among many, on a beach near Brittas. It has many holes, sometimes through to the other side. What caused the holes? – Ruth Murphy, Kilcock, Co Kildare
There are a few organisms that cause holes in shells. These ones were probably caused by the boring sponge Cliona chelata.
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This moth was camped out on my front door for several days. Is it likely to overwinter? – Paul Kenny, Kimmage, Dublin 12
It's the garden carpet moth and it overwinters as a pupa.
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I took this image of a turtle dove on our driveway. It was my first time seeing one. Is that unusual? – Barbara Kenneally, Allihies, Co Cork
It is a rare sighting. Turtle doves are passage migrants in Ireland, usually seen on coastal headlands on the south and east coasts in spring and autumn.
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These whooper swans had just arrived at Bunduff lake, Mullaghmore, on October 7th. – Michael McCormick, Cliffoney, Co Sligo
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I found this little yellow moth outside our door. Can you tell me what it is? – Rob Smyth, Foxrock, Dublin 18
It's the canary-shouldered thorn moth.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.