Leaf Insects

Leaf Insect

Leaf insects are members of the family Phylliidae, and are some of the most remarkable leaf mimics in the entire animal kingdom. They can be found from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. They evolved a tremendously long time ago to camouflage themselves by taking 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 47 million year old fossil of Eophyllium messelensis, a prehistoric ancestor of Phylliidae, displays many of the same characteristics of modern leaf insects, indicating that this family has changed little over time, testimony to how effective their method of camouflage really is.