Description: These insects mimic the leaves on which they feed. Females are brown or green and covered with thorn-like spikes for defence and camouflage. Males are smaller, only growing up to 11 cm, and are brown or sometimes pale green. They only have spikes around the head but have long wings and are good fliers.

Diet: Spiny Leaf Insects are herbivores, usually feeding on the eucalyptus trees that live in.

In the wild: Spiny Leaf Insects avoid predators by camouflaging on branches among leaves. When threatened, they arch their tail above their bodies towards the intruder much like a scorpion. Baby Spiny Leaf Insects look similar to ants, avoiding predation by birds. Their colour becomes brown- green once they begin feeding on leaves.