Discover the Fascinating World of 'Insect Specials'

Porcellionides pruinosus 'Powder Orange' – The lightning-fast, bright orange clean-up crew!

Do you want to provide your terrarium with a useful clean-up crew that also stands out beautifully? The Porcellionides pruinosus 'Powder Orange' (also known in English as the Powder Orange woodlouse) originates from Southwest Asia and is known in the isopod hobby as one of the most active and strongest species!

Beautiful matte-orange glow & Active behavior

These isopods grow to an average size of 7 to 12 mm and have a striking, bright orange color with a soft, powdery matte finish on their shell. Unlike many woodlouse species that hide during the day, 'Powder Oranges' are constantly on the move. They are known for their impressive speed and are therefore super fun to observe!

The perfect bioactive clean-up crew

In a natural or bioactive terrarium, they are absolute top-notch decomposers. They process dead beech and oak leaves, rotten wood, fungi, vegetable scraps (such as cucumber or mushrooms), and droppings from terrarium inhabitants at a rapid pace. Because they reproduce quickly and are very hardy, they form a stable population in no time.

Care & Housing

This species has few environmental requirements and is therefore extremely suitable for beginners:

• Housing: Isopods cannot climb smooth glass. A glass tank or plastic breeding box with a substrate of cocopeat mixed with humus, leaf litter, and pieces of bark is ideal.
• Humidity & Temperature: Maintain a temperature between 21 °C and 25 °C. Spray 1 part of the enclosure to keep it moist (e.g., with some sphagnum moss) so they can choose between a dry or humid zone.
• Nutrition & Calcium: Offer plenty of dead leaves, driftwood, and vegetables. A source of calcium (such as cuttlebone or cuttlebone powder) is essential for the development of their shell!

Key benefits at a glance:

• Striking Appearance: Bright, matte-orange 'powder' color.
• Super Active & Fast: Very agile isopods that are often seen.
• Ideal Clean-up Crew: Keeps bioactive terrariums free of mold and waste.
• Easy to Breed & Hardy Species: Hardy species that multiply quickly.
• Guaranteed Own Breeding: Healthy young nymphs with live arrival guarantee.

Product specifications:

• Species: Porcellionides pruinosus 'Powder Orange'
• Quantity: Per piece, with discounted groups available for order above (ideal for starting a colony/population)
• Size upon delivery: Approx. millimeters to 1.5 cm (several weeks old)
• Ideal temperature: 21 °C to 25 °C
• Climate: Moderately humid with a drier zone
• Application: Bioactive clean-up crew, feeder animals, or as a breeding hobby

Give your terrarium a striking, useful boost.

Pocket Microscope 30x Magnification (Nick Baker) – The wonderful world in pocket size!

Do you want to view nature so closely that a simple ant transforms into a giant monster? With this super handy Pocket Microscope, you get a fully-fledged optical instrument that fits effortlessly in your pocket or backpack. Much simpler and more flexible to use than a traditional, heavy desk microscope!

30x Optical Magnification & Automatic LED Illumination

Thanks to its high-quality precision optics, this compact microscope magnifies everything you encounter a whopping 30 times. As soon as you unfold the microscope, the bright LED illumination automatically switches on. This perfectly illuminates the object in front of the lens — ideal for studying plant structures, insects, textiles, minerals, or even for solving secret 'crimes'!

Usable indoors and outdoors (No slide required!)

The great advantage of this outdoor microscope is that objects do not necessarily have to be mounted on a specimen slide. Do you see a special moss or a crawling beetle on a tree trunk? Place the microscope directly over it and view it in sharp detail on the spot! Do you prefer to work at home at your desk? The set comes with example slides and blank slides to make your own samples.

With an extensive inspirational booklet by Nick Baker

The included 16-page full-colour instruction booklet is written by the famous British naturalist Nick Baker. It is packed with useful tips on how to get the best sharpness and gives fascinating suggestions of everyday objects that hide an astonishing secret under the lens.

Key advantages at a glance:

• 30x Optical Magnification: Crystal clear view of tiny details.
• Automatic LED Illumination: Illuminates the object immediately upon unfolding.
• Pocket-sized & Lightweight: Take your microscope anywhere on an adventure.
• Includes Specimen Kit: Example slides and materials for your own specimens.
• Inspiring Booklet (16 pages): Packed with tips and facts by naturalist Nick Baker.

Product specifications:

• Product: Pocket Microscope
• Magnification: 30x (precision optics)
• Illumination: Built-in automatic LED lamp
• Package contents: Pocket microscope, example specimen slides, blank slides, cover slips, 16-page full-colour instruction booklet
• Application: Educational nature research indoors and outdoors

Go on a journey of discovery in your own backyard. Order the 30x pocket microscope today!

Ladybird Lodge Nature Kit (Nick Baker) – Discover the secret life of ladybirds!

Go out into nature and become a true insect expert! With this specially developed Ladybird Lodge, together with well-known TV nature expert Nick Baker, you will discover where to find ladybirds, how their unique life cycle works, and how to safely and animal-friendly care for and study them.

Safe collection & razor-sharp observation fun

The lodge consists of a sturdy, crystal-clear plastic tank with a ventilated lid, in which you can create a comfortable temporary living environment with leaves and twigs. With the included soft brush and specimen tubes, you can gently collect ladybirds from plants without damaging their wings or legs. Place them in the tank and observe their spots, antennae, and flight behavior in detail with the magnifying glass!

Includes comprehensive 26-page guide

The set includes a richly illustrated, full-color instruction booklet written by Nick Baker. This booklet is packed with fascinating facts: from the number of spots on their shell to what they prefer to eat (aphids!). A fantastic stimulus to get children outdoors in a playful and educational way.

Contents of this complete nature kit:

• Clear Plastic Tank & Lid: Spacious, transparent, and well-ventilated observation lodge.
• Specimen Tubes & Tube Holder: For safely moving and studying captured insects.
• Brush & Tweezers: For carefully handling tiny creatures and material.
• Magnifying Glass: View the smallest details up close.
• Comprehensive Guide (26 pages): Full-color information booklet packed with tips, photos, and facts.

Key benefits at a glance:

• Developed by Nature Expert Nick Baker: Animal-friendly and educationally thought out.
• 360° Transparent View: Optimal tracking of the ladybird's movements.
• Complete Research Set: All necessary tools to embark on an adventure immediately.
• Ideal Outdoor Activity: Stimulates a love for nature and science in children aged 5 to 10.

Product specifications:

• Product: Ladybird Lodge Nature Kit
• Designer: Nick Baker
• Age Recommendation: Suitable for children aged 5 to 10
• Application: Educational nature research, collecting and observing insects

Put on your boots and go look for the garden's most beautiful bringers of luck. 

Olive Striped Millipede (Spirostreptus sp.) – The ultimate beginner species from Tanzania!

Are you looking for a special, calm and fascinating terrarium inhabitant? The Olive Striped Millipede (Spirostreptus sp. 1) originates from the drier savanna regions of Tanzania. Thanks to its robust health, low housing requirements and tolerant nature, this species is known in the hobby as the absolute number 1 beginner millipede!

Unique Orange-Green Color Palette

This millipede is a beautiful sight to behold. Its slender body has a striking striped pattern of alternating green and orange rings. The bright orange head shield (collum), orange antennae, and many orange legs moving synchronously beneath the body add extra elegance. In male specimens, the 7th segment is noticeably thickened. They grow steadily and can eventually reach a length of 15 centimeters or more!

Calm behavior & Long lifespan

Spirostreptus sp. is a very tolerant and economical species that can live up to **5 years**. They reach sexual maturity after about 2 to 3 years. While many other millipedes constantly burrow, adult specimens of this species can regularly be admired on the substrate and climbing branches during the day!

Care & Housing

The Olive Striped Millipede places very few demands on its environment, making care very simple:

• Terrarium size: House a group in a terrarium of at least 40 x 40 x 40 cm.
• Substantial Substrate Layer: Provide a substrate layer of at least 10 cm deep (ripe forest substrate mixed with humus, rotten wood, and beech/oak leaves). This serves directly as their primary food!
• Climate: Ideal temperature is between 21 °C and 26 °C with a humidity of 60% to 80%. Cover the substrate with moss, leaves, and bark to maintain stable humidity.
• Additional Food: Supplement the substrate with pieces of vegetables, fruit (such as cucumber or apple), and a calcium source (cuttlebone) for a strong exoskeleton. Climbing branches are a must!

Key advantages at a glance:

• Beautiful Appearance: Striking orange-green rings with orange legs.
• Ultimate Beginner Species: Very robust, forgiving, and easy to keep.
• Long Lifespan: Can live up to 5 years under good conditions.
• Visible During the Day: Adult animals are regularly seen on the surface.
• Own Import/Breeding Guarantee: Healthy young animals (5-10 cm) with live-arrival guarantee.

Product specifications:

• Species: Spirostreptus sp. 'Olive Striped'
• Origin: Tanzania (Savanna)
• Size upon delivery: Approx. 5 to 10 cm (strong young animals)
• Maximum length: Approx. 15 cm+
• Ideal temperature: 21 °C to 26 °C
• Humidity: 60% - 80%
• Life expectancy: Up to 5 years

Bring this colorful primeval inhabitant into your home. Order the Olive Striped Millipede today!

Zebra Mantis - Omomantis zebrata

The praying mantis's stage is from L3 to L7

Information

Omomantis zebrata is a species of praying mantis belonging to the family Mantidae. The common name “Zebra Mantis” comes from the striking zebra-like stripes covering its body. When disturbed, this praying mantis often displays its remarkable flying abilities, with flights of up to 50 meters! Omomantis zebrata is originally from tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Although small, they have a great voracity for insects; a spectacular species!

Appearance

Their bodies are adorned with a unique striped pattern of bright, striking colors such as yellow, pink, blue, and green, with a black border along the outer edge of each color.

They are relatively small in size; their bodies grow to be anywhere between 5 and 7 centimeters, with females growing one centimeter larger than males.

Their front legs are noticeably longer than their hind legs and are equipped with spines that they use to catch their prey.

Their heads are triangular and have a pair of large eyes at the front, allowing them to see in many directions and detect small movements in the air.

Behavior

Omomantis zebrata is generally a peaceful creature and shows no aggression towards humans or other animals. They are considered quite docile, and you can often see them admiring their surroundings with their quick eyes.

Omomantis zebrata can also be considered shy, as they tend to hide or retreat when they are afraid of danger. They are also quite active in the morning and evening and may show some curious behavior during this time.

Despite being small, they are quite brave and will not hesitate to come out and explore their habitat if they feel safe and comfortable. Furthermore, they are also excellent climbers and may even try to climb on your shoulder and hands if they are given food.

Food

The Zebra Praying Mantis primarily feeds on other small insects in its natural habitat. They tend to hide during the day and become more active at night to hunt prey more effectively.

Omomantis zebrata occasionally feeds on small flowers with nectar and pollen, but usually feeds on their normal insect diet. Due to their small size, they cannot tackle prey much larger than themselves.

In their natural habitat, the Zebra Praying Mantis also eats any nutritious plants or decaying vegetation they encounter, so this should also be considered when providing food for them in captivity.

Environmental Requirements

The ideal temperature is around 24 °C, but room temperature is also fine. At night, it can be slightly cooler than during the day, but at least 18 °C.
This species does not have high humidity requirements, but it is important to spray with water every day or every other day. A guideline humidity is about 40 to 65%. Being too humid for too long is the number one cause of death for this species.
As with all praying mantis species, this species needs an enclosure that is at least 3x the length of the animal in height, and at least 2x the length of the animal in width. For an adult animal, this means at least 27 cm in height and 18 cm in width. A good size for a terrarium would be 20 x 20 x 35, so there is also room for artificial plants and many perches.

Leaf Insect Nymph (Phyllium sp.) – The ultimate master of camouflage!

Are you looking for one of the most fascinating insects in the world? The Leaf Insect (Phyllium sp.) is an absolute eye-catcher in the terrarium. With their flat, oval green bodies, subtly mimicked leaf veins, and serrated legs, these animals are almost indistinguishable from a real ragged leaf. Even their only defense is purely based on camouflage: when in danger, they remain perfectly still and 'play dead'!

Development from tiny 'spider' to beautiful leaf

The development of a Leaf Insect is a wondrous process. When the nymphs first hatch from the egg, they are reddish-brown in color and resemble small spiders in their movement. As soon as they start feeding on fresh leaves, they gradually turn bright green. It takes almost a year and 8 molting stages before the animals are fully grown.

Simple Feeding: Fresh Bramble Leaves

The main diet of the Leaf Insect consists of bramble leaves, possibly supplemented with rose or oak leaves. Place the bramble branches in a small jam jar with water (with holes in the lid) to prevent nymphs or eggs from falling into the water. This keeps the leaves wonderfully fresh for 1 to 2 weeks. Always ensure that the leaves are 100% pesticide-free!

Housing and Handling Tips

A group of about five adult specimens needs a terrarium of at least **20 x 20 x 30 cm** (L x W x H) with good ventilation. They thrive well at room temperature (20 °C to 25 °C). Because young nymphs are very delicate, it's best to carefully move them using a spoon or let them crawl onto your hand when cleaning.

Virgin Reproduction (Parthenogenesis)

In captivity, females primarily reproduce *parthenogenetically* (virginally). This means that the unfertilized eggs laid will hatch after 5 to 6 months, exclusively producing female nymphs. A beautiful, natural process that is easy to maintain!

Key advantages at a glance:

• Incredible Camouflage: Indistinguishable from a real green leaf.
• Simple Feeding: Thrives excellently on readily available bramble leaves.
• Calm & Defenseless: Cannot bite, sting, or scratch.
• Room Temperature: Easy to keep between 20 °C and 25 °C.
• Home-bred: Healthy, strong nymphs bred directly by the breeder.

Product specifications:

• Species: Phyllium sp. (Leaf Insect / Giant Leaf)
• Quantity: 1 nymph
• Food: Bramble leaf (main food), rose leaf, oak leaf
• Temperature: 20 °C - 25 °C (room temperature)
• Humidity: Relatively dry with limited misting (drinks from fresh moist leaves)
• Recommended enclosure: Minimum 20x20x40 cm (well-ventilated)
• Origin: Home-bred

Bring a masterpiece of nature into your home. Order the Leaf Insect nymph.