Philippine Leaf Insect — Fact Sheet

Phyllium philippinicum · Philippine Leaf Insect · PSG 278

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Small group: at least 30 x 30 x 45 cm with fine mesh or cross-ventilation.
• Reduce density if animals touch while molting or show nibbled margins.
• Seal all gaps; males fly and hatchlings run quickly.
• Paper floor for quarantine/egg collection; avoid a sealed wet tank.

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Grippy ceiling and at least three adult body lengths of hanging space.
• Food stems in water through a tightly closed lid.
• Keep foliage open enough for safe molts.

💡 Lighting

• UVB not required.
• Bright indirect light; 10-12-hour photoperiod.
• Avoid direct sun and hot lamps.

🌡️ Temperature

• Upper warm point: 25-26°C

• Warm zone: 20-25°C

• Cool zone: 18-21°C

• Night: 18-21°C

• Constant high heat accelerates development and can shorten life.

💧 Humidity & water

• 60-80%; locally 70-85% near a molt, with drying intervals.
• Fine mist on wall/leaves after lights dim; never soak hatchlings.
• No open dish; large droplets can drown L1 nymphs.

🥗 Diet

Feed freely:

• Pesticide-free bramble/raspberry, rose, oak, hazel, or guava leaves.

In moderation:

• Any new correctly identified host plant, alongside an accepted food until feeding is confirmed.

Avoid:

• Roadside, sprayed, florist, or unidentified foliage; very soft hairy bramble growth for small nymphs.

Supplements:

• None; keep safe leaves fresh at all times.

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Failed molt or bent legs → poor clearance, dehydration, weak grip, crowding, or disturbance.
• Hatchlings not feeding → tough/unfamiliar leaves, pesticide, dehydration, or stale air.
• Missing limbs or chewed margins → handling, hunger, crowding, or mixed housing.
• Moldy eggs or mites → incubation too wet and poorly ventilated.
• Sudden group losses → remove suspected pesticide-contaminated food immediately.

Seek specialist veterinary advice for unexplained continuing losses; never release insects or eggs.