Leaf Insect is an insect in the order of stick insects that looks like a leaf. Also called walking leaf, there are about 30 species of leaf insects. They are flat, green insects that have a leaflike appearance. Leaf insects are some of the most remarkable leaf mimics in the entire animal kingdom. Phyllium sp. is the one most commonly kept as a pet. Giant Leaf Insect is the largest among the leaf insect species.
Leaf insects are among the most successful camouflagers known to exist in the animal kingdom. They use camouflage to take on the appearance of a leaf. They do this so accurately that predators often aren't able to distinguish them from real leaves. In some species the edge of the leaf insect's body even has the appearance of bite marks. To further confuse predators, when the leaf insect walks, it rocks back and forth, to mimic a real leaf being blown by the wind.
A leaf bug is capable of regeneration. If it loses its limb, it can replace it the next time it molts (periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles). However, once it has reached its adulthood, it can no more replace the lost limb, as then it will not be able to molt anymore.
The female has large leathery forewings that lie edge to edge on the abdomen and resemble, in their vein pattern, the midrib and veins in a leaf. Females are flightless and so the hindwings have no function. The male has small tegmina and ample, non-leaflike, functional hindwings. Newly hatched young are reddish in colour and become green after feeding on leaves. Colour and form provide protection by allowing these insects to blend with their environment.
Leaf insects occur from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. All species of leaf insects are about 60 mm (2.3 inches) long and range from India to the Fiji Islands. These are related to the stick insects in the family Phasmatidae. Leaf insects are native to the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere. This species of leaf insect eats blackberries, rose and oak leaves.
Source: Wikipedia, San Francisco Zoo
Leaf insects are among the most successful camouflagers known to exist in the animal kingdom. They use camouflage to take on the appearance of a leaf. They do this so accurately that predators often aren't able to distinguish them from real leaves. In some species the edge of the leaf insect's body even has the appearance of bite marks. To further confuse predators, when the leaf insect walks, it rocks back and forth, to mimic a real leaf being blown by the wind.
A leaf bug is capable of regeneration. If it loses its limb, it can replace it the next time it molts (periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles). However, once it has reached its adulthood, it can no more replace the lost limb, as then it will not be able to molt anymore.
The female has large leathery forewings that lie edge to edge on the abdomen and resemble, in their vein pattern, the midrib and veins in a leaf. Females are flightless and so the hindwings have no function. The male has small tegmina and ample, non-leaflike, functional hindwings. Newly hatched young are reddish in colour and become green after feeding on leaves. Colour and form provide protection by allowing these insects to blend with their environment.
Leaf insects occur from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. All species of leaf insects are about 60 mm (2.3 inches) long and range from India to the Fiji Islands. These are related to the stick insects in the family Phasmatidae. Leaf insects are native to the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere. This species of leaf insect eats blackberries, rose and oak leaves.
Source: Wikipedia, San Francisco Zoo
