Phyllium
siccifolium
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Phyllium

Phyllium, known as Leaf Insect, are phasmids who imitate leaves. Their camouflage is that perfect, that also other herbivore erode them. They also copy perfectly leaf veins and chew marks.

At present, at least 40 species are described, e.g. Phyllium giganteum (HAUSLEITHNER, 1984), P. bioculatum (GRAY, 1832) and P. siccifolium (LINNÉ, 1758).

Typical look of the nymphs:

  • like bigger nymphs, colour depends on species

Important for terrarium- keeping:
Because of the perfect camouflage of Phyllium, they should not be co- housted with other phasmids. Stick insects and others can not differ between their forage crop and the Phyllium, so sometimes they erode them. Thus a species- terrarium is recommended (each Phyllium species for its own, optimally).

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