L'insetto foglia gigante è un grande insetto che vive nelle foreste pluviali tropicali occidentali della Malesia. Questa specie ha un'abilità mimetica straordinaria e, come il nome stesso suggerisce, è praticamente indistinguibile dalle foglie degli alberi su cui vive. Le femmine sono lunghe 12 centimetri, piatte e larghe e hanno ali vestigiali che non permettono loro di volare. I maschi sono lunghi circa 9 centimetri e molto più affusolati. Hanno ali lunghe e possono volare.
Latin Name
Phyllium giganteum
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giant-leaf-insect
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Animal Facts
The giant Malaysian leaf insect is very docile and spends most of its time still and unreactive, which further improves its camouflage.
The giant Malaysian leaf insect lives in the Taman Negara rainforest which is 130million years old and one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
While moulting, the giant Malaysian leaf insect is very vulnerable and can easily die if the temperature or humidity of the environment are not ideal, or if they are touched while their bodies are still soft.
Females do not require males to reproduce and can breed asexually, but all the offspring will be female in this case.
The first male giant Malaysian leaf insect was not discovered until 1994, therefore comparatively little is known about the males of this species.