Giant Leaf Insect Sheds Exoskeleton

Occurred on January 13, 2023 / Antwerp, Belgium

: "In this video, you see a Giant Malaysian leaf insect (Pulchriphyllium giganteum) shed her exoskeleton. The video is sped up, the whole process took about half an hour. Just like stick insects, leaf insects shed their exoskeleton in order to grow. It is quite a difficult process, which requires a humid environment and no disturbances. Luckily this female nymph only has to do this one more time to become an adult and then the molts stop. The leaf insect in the video belongs to the phasmid breeder 'Phasmedia', who keeps over 20 different stick and leaf insect species."