{"product_id":"reuze-wandelend-blad-phyllium-giganteum-psg72","title":"Giant Walking Leaf - Phyllium giganteum PSG72","description":"\u003ch1\u003eGiant Leaf Insect - Phyllium giganteum PSG72\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDepending on our breeding stock, you will receive PSG72 or PSG278. The nymphs are between L2-L6.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis species was formerly known as Phyllium sp. Leaf insects belong to the group Phasmida, which also includes stick insects. Phyllium giganteum has also been assigned a PSG number, namely PSG 72. Phyllium sp. is native to Malaysia.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe information below mainly concerns the PSG72.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance and Origin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eThe species lives only in western \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maleisi%C3%AB\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eMalaysia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e and is the largest known species.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eThe animal has excellent \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Camouflage\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003ecamouflage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e: its body strongly resembles a frayed leaf. Not only is the color green and the body flat and oval, but the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nerven\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eveins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e are also mimicked. The legs are brown and have notches and appear irregular. This makes it even more difficult for a potential enemy to see them. If the animal is caught anyway, it plays dead, because \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Insectivoor\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #0b0080;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003einsectivores\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e do not eat dead insects and sometimes drop the leaf insect. This is also its only defense; a leaf insect is otherwise completely defenseless.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eAn adult female is over 13 cm. (PSG278 remains a bit smaller, with a maximum of 8 cm.)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReproduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eReproduction is special. Males do occur in nature, but they are not needed for breeding animals in captivity. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eIn captivity, therefore, only females are available. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eThe females then lay unfertilized eggs which do hatch and are all female. This is called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maagdelijke_voortplanting\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eparthenogenesis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e. (For PSG278, males also occur; they are smaller and narrower and can fly reasonably well with strong wings.)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDevelopment\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eAll specimens born through parthenogenesis are females. This species also exhibits \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gynandromorfisme\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003egynandromorphism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e: the phenomenon that a specimen possesses many male characteristics but is still female. Young \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eanimals are called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nimf_(biologie)\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00000a;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003enymphs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #222222;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e and are reddish-brown until the first molt. When the nymphs have just hatched from the egg, they look just like spiders. Later, when they start to eat, they turn green. The eggs hatch after 5 to 6 months and it takes almost a year for the animals to mature. The leaf insects go through 8 stages of molting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHousing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eGiant leaf insects are kept at room temperature. Approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003e20 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eo \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eto 25\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eo \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eCelsius. They need a terrarium of at least 20cm long x 20cm wide x 40cm high. Such a tank is suitable for housing about five adult animals. There should be sufficient ventilation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eThey feed on bramble leaves. If available, a sprig of rose leaves or oak leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eA jam jar with holes in the lid serves as a vase for the bramble sprigs. This prevents eggs and nymphs from ending up in the water and keeps the bramble leaves good for one to two weeks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eIt is important that the climate in the enclosure is relatively dry. This is achieved by limited spraying with a plant sprayer. The animals drink moisture from fresh leaves. So always ensure fresh bramble leaves with the branches\/stems in moisture as described above.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHandling and moving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eSometimes it is necessary to move the leaf insects. The small specimens are easiest to pick up by the tip of their \"tail\" and can be gently pulled loose if they are holding on. If you find this daunting, a spoon is a good solution. With a little skill, they will walk onto it themselves. Carefully pick up the larger specimens. If they are holding on to a twig, do not pull hard. You can also manipulate them so that they walk onto your hand themselves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReplacing bramble leaves for nymphs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eThe advice is to first replace the withered leaves by cutting off the leaves from the old twigs in the enclosure and leaving them in the enclosure with the nymphs on them. Remove the twigs and some leaves. Continue this until all the twigs have been removed from the jam jar with holes. Once the jam jars are cleaned, they are put back and the new twigs are placed in them. A few days later, remove the dried leaves. Make sure to check carefully that there are no nymphs on them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eOn the bottom, place, for example, a few centimeters of sandbox or tile sand. This prevents mold. The dry sand easily absorbs moisture and also easily releases it. Before the sand is used, it needs to be thoroughly dried.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eYou can simply leave the droppings. As well as the leaf litter. When there is a lot, you can easily scoop it up with a spoon and remove it. If there are eggs, you can also leave them.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium;\"\u003eWhen cleaning, you can put droppings with eggs on a tray and separate them quite easily. For example, you can use a tea strainer to quickly separate the sand from droppings and eggs. Then separate the eggs from the droppings. Inside, the windows are cleaned only with paper towels and a little warm water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57217505919311,"sku":"SPSG278","price":15.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0996\/6528\/1359\/files\/2026380633.jpg?v=1773850173","url":"https:\/\/ants-kingdom-mierenboerderij.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/vietnamesisch-walking-leaf-cryptophyllium-limoyesi-html","provider":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","version":"1.0","type":"link"}