TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea (stick insects, phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects)
Superfamily: Phyllioidea
Family: Phylliidae (true leaf insects or walking leaves)

Genus/species: Phyllium giaganteum

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Use camouflage to mimic leaves and even waver when they walk like leaves blowing in the wind.

Giant Malaysian leaf insect19131910632_d71d7691e0_o

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Southeast Asia to Australia

Giant Malaysian leaf insect18951496529_05edfe0096_o

DIET IN THE WILD: Plant leaves including Oak and bramble

Giant Malaysian leaf insect19141065381_b24c18b8d4_o

REPRODUCTION: Males are hard to find so females are able to reproduce by laying unfertilized eggs that grow into more females.

References

California Academy of Sciences Color of life exhibit, June 2015

Encyclopedia of Life  eol.org/pages/1077423/overview

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1xg

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/19131910632/in/album-72157652559028013/