Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar"

The Vietnamese walking leaf, Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar", is a newly discovered leaf insect species from the tropical rainforests of southern Vietnam. The genus name Cryptophyllium means "hidden leaf", reflecting this species ability to camouflage with its surroundings. This morphologically distinct species is one of the largest in culture, arguably the largest, rivalling the size of Pulchriphyllium giganteum "Tapah Hills".

It is certainly one of my favourite species, thanks to its impressive size and shape.

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Appearance

As with most phasmid species, the appearance of Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" varies significantly depending on the insect's sex and development stage.

Nymphs: Newly hatched nymphs are strikingly different to their adult counterparts. Measuring approximately 18–20 mm in length and 8–9 mm in width, they exhibit a bold colouration that reminds me of fire ants.

The head and antennae are dark, almost black, while the thorax and abdomen display a vivid red colouration with orange hues and black edging. The legs are also black but have distrinctive white striping.

Within several weeks of feeding, they transition from this fiery colouration to the characteristic green of this species.

As they progress through their developmental stages (L1–L6), the nymphs steadily increase in size until reaching maturity.

Several-week-old L1 nymph: its green colouration has started to emerge. (Can you spot the older, well-camouflaged nymph hidden in the background?)

Adult female - note the intricate, leaf-like venation on the wings

Females: Adult females of Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" are among the largest leaf insect species measuring approximately 90-120mm in length.

These females are typically a consistent lime green colour without much patterning or variation in markings. In my experience, all individuals have been green, though a faded yellow colouration is possible, albeit less common.

They have flattened, irregularly shaped bodies. The front quarter is narrower and then broadens significantly towards the abdomen. This abdomen is distinct in shape, featuring three noticeable peaks: a central peak formed by the main body of the abdomen, which protrudes furthest, flanked by two smaller lateral peaks.

Adult females have large non-functional forewings which covers around 80% of the body. These wings are adorned with prominent, leaf-like venation, closely mimicking the natural vein structure seen in real leaves! Another noticeable feature is their large, lobed forelegs which sort of look out of place.

Two short antennae, each measuring ~5mm in length, complete their appearance.

Look at the difference between between the adult male Cryptophyllium limogesi 'Thac Krong Kmar' at the bottom and the much smaller Phyllium gardabagusi 'Argopuro' above

Males: Adult males of Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" are smaller than females, but still grow to impressive sizes of ~80-100mm in length. Due to the absence of male Pulchriphyllium giganteum “Tapah Hills” in culture these are the largest male leaf insect species you can keep.

Males share the same lime green colouration as the females.

They have pale-yellow eyes and a distinctive, segmented abdomen. As seen in the photo, the abdomen gradually widens up to the second and third segments before tapering towards the end.

Unlike females, males are fully winged and capable of flight. These wings are long, covering the majority of the body. Their antennae are particularly long (not surprising considering their size), extending to about 50mm in length. That is more than half the length of their body, and far longer than those of females.

Sexing from L3/L4 stage is relatively easy using the pointers above.

Adult male

Lifespan

Females live for ~10-14 months.

Males live for ~8-12 months and mature faster than females.

Males can pass away fairly quickly after reaching adulthood, so it's important to try and time their maturity with the females. In some cases, it may be advisable to keep the males at slightly cooler temperatures to slow development.

This is a slow growing leaf insect species.

Behaviour

Newly hatched Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" nymphs are highly active, often exhibiting hyperactive behaviour during their initial days. This early burst of energy gradually diminishes as they age and begin to feed.

As adults, this species remains more active than many other leaf insects, though still relatively docile compared to other invertebrates. Males are particularly difficult to handle. In my experience, they tend to back away rapidly, drop to the floor when approached, and may even take flight when startled. Females, while significantly easier to handle, often wrap their legs tightly around the plant stems, making it difficult to gently remove them.

Due to their larger body size, adult females are also prone to developing cuts on their back wings, typically caused by snagging on bramble thorns.

Despite these challenges, Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" shows strong feeding and breeding instincts and is relatively easy to care for and breed in captivity. As with most leaf insects, they are more active at night and tend to remain still during the day.

Three adult females

Diet

Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" primarily feed on bramble, oak, guava, rose, and beech species. When selecting food plants, ensure they are free from insecticides or other harmful chemicals. It is also worth noting that the nymphs of this species prefer older, darker-coloured leaves over fresh growth, especially when it comes to bramble. This is because brand new leaves can be poisonous.

Before offering food to your Cryptophyllium limogesi 'Thac Krong Kmar', it's advisable to wash the cuttings with dechlorinated water to remove any unwanted hitchhikers and to check for contaminants like bird droppings.

Adult female on bramble

Group of younger nymphs on bramble

Unlike some other leaf insect species, Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" young nymphs have a strong feeding instinct. However, to further promote feeding, it can still be beneficial to carefully cut the edges of leaves using scissors. A gentle breeze or low-speed fan can also encourage feeding at all life stages by mimicking natural airflow and stimulating activity.

To maximise plant longevity and minimise maintenance, consider keeping the food plant in a pot of water within the enclosure. Be sure to cover or reduce the size of the pot's opening to prevent the leaf insects from accidentally falling in and drowning. Always provide a fresh source of food. On average, clean out the enclosure once a week, replacing old food with fresh cuttings and adding new substrate (I recommend paper towel) to remove frass. This weekly maintenance also provides a good opportunity to collect any eggs that may have been laid.

Environmental conditions

As a recently described species, the ideal care requirements for Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" are still being established. However, they appear to adapt more easily to varying conditions than other leaf insect species and have proven to be a beginner-friendly option.

Temperature: Maintain daytime temperatures between 22°C and 26°C, allowing them to cool to 20°C - 22°C at night. Room temperatures are sufficient for Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar".

Humidity: Humidity plays a vital role in the care of leaf insects. Aim for high humidity levels of ~60-80%. To achieve this, spray the enclosure once or twice daily, focusing on the food plant. Proper moisture is essential for successful moulting, a process by which the leaf insect grows and develops. When misting, use non-chlorinated water to avoid potential harm. Keep in mind it is easier to maintain a higher humidity in a glass enclosure (such as an Exo Terra) rather than a netted enclosure.

Lighting: Mimic natural day/night cycles using either natural or artificial lighting.

Freshly moulted adult female. Phasmids are known to eat their moult afterwards!

Housing

Provide an enclosure at least three times the insect's length in height and twice in width. For adults, a minimum size of 30cm x 30cm x 45cm (width x length x height) is recommended for this species. The more height available, the better, as this allows the leaf insect more room when hanging down during moulting. This is particularly important for large species like Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar".

Netted enclosure (40cm*40cm*60cm, W*L*H)

Ideal enclosure for nymphs. Note the food plant does not touch the sides

For young nymphs, two enclosure setups are advisable: either a large enough space where the food plant doesn't touch the enclosure walls, preventing nymphs from wandering off, or a smaller enclosure allowing nymphs to easily return to their food plant. In either case it is crucial nymphs can find their way back to feed.

Proper ventilation is equally important as maintaining high humidity. Ensure ample airflow to prevent stagnant conditions. At a minimum, a mesh or netted roof is recommended. Netted material also provides easier grip for the insects, which is especially beneficial during moulting.

Breeding, incubation, and hatching

Both males and females are common in Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" populations, allowing for sexual reproduction. After their final moult to adulthood, males and females begin mating within 2-3 weeks, with females laying fertilised eggs shortly after.

Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" eggs

Females typically lay ~1-3 eggs per day over a period of about three months, dropping them to the floor of the enclosure with a whip-like movement of their abdomen. The eggs of Cryptophyllium limogesi are dark brown, five-sided, and lumpy in appearance, with small pits and tiny, light brown, moss-like structures covering their surface. The eggs measure ~5mm in length and ~4mm in width.

Incubation usually takes 6-10 months. This is longer than other species due to the longer life span of Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar".

Maintain the eggs on a moist substrate such as paper towel, coconut fibre, or preferably vermiculite, at a stable temperature of 22°C–26°C. Ensure the eggs receive daily light exposure and monitor regularly for mould. If mould appears on an egg, carefully remove it from the container. You can attempt to gently wipe off the mould using a clean paper towel or soft brush, but if the mould is extensive, it's best to discard the egg to protect the others.

This species' eggs are particularly prone to mould, so I highly recommend the vermiculite bottle cap method for incubation. For detailed steps on this technique and more information on phasmid egg care, please refer to my article. To maintain high humidity levels of around 80%, I spritz the vermiculite base with dechlorinated water 2–3 times per week.

Adult male and female mating

In the absence of males, female Cryptophyllium limogesi "Thac Krong Kmar" can reproduce via parthenogenesis. This process produces unfertilised eggs that hatch into genetic clones of the female. I also have an article on this process!