Sub Family: Phylliidae

Foodplant in captivity: Bramble.

Humidity requirements: I use the same conditions for rearing Phyllium giganteum as I do for rearing Phyllium celebicum:

A great many articles have been written regarding the Phylliums and their humidity requirements.  Many people suggest that they need as much humidity as the Heteropteryginae.  Others talk about constructing tanks that have three glass sides and the fourth side made of mesh, in order to allow adequate airflow, and some people even install a tiny computer fan next to the cage. 

Personally I believe that, although Phylliums require some degree of humidity to be able to moult adequately, build-up of stale air causes decelerated growth and subsequent death.  Therefore I raise my Leaf Insects in a tall plastic sweet jar, with netting over the top, and every few days I spray a dense layer of luke-warm water over the netting.  I leave this for about 30 minutes, allowing the insects to drink if they wish, and then I put the cage in front of a fan for several hours.  The use of a fan appears to blow away excess water, and it also encourages the insects to walk about and start eating.  I don't know whether this is the ideal method of rearing Phylliums, but it works for me.

Comment: Phyllium giganteum is, as the name suggest, the largest known Leaf Insect.  In culture this species is parthenogenic, though I believe that Bristol Zoo do currently have a male P. giganteum.

I bought my one specimen as a medium-sized nymph, and currently she has not yet reached adulthood; therefore my knowledge of the species is fairly limited.  All I can say is that this is a really, really impressive-looking species but, as with all Leaf Insects, P. giganteum is certainly not for the beginner.  As I wrote regarding P. celebicum, they really are sensitive to fluctuations in their environment: food must always be fresh, temperature should remain more or less constant, and humidity levels must be controlled.