File: <nepidae.htm> [For educational purposes only] Glossary <Principal
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HEMIPTERA, Nepidae -- <Images> & <Juveniles> Please refer also to the following link for details on this
group: Nepidae = Link 1 Description
These are the
water scorpions, their superficial resemblance to a scorpion,
which is due to the raptorial forelegs and the presence of a long slender process
at the posterior end of the abdomen, simulating a tail.
There are 14 genera in in two subfamilies, Nepinae and
Ranatrinae. Species of the genus Ranatra are referred to as needle
bugs or water sticks because they are thinner than Nepa and its allied
genera. All species are
predaceous aquatic bugs with raptorial front legs. They have a long caudal breathing tube that is derived from
their cerci. This tube is often as
long as the body, and is held at the surface as the insect crawls over
aquatic vegetation They move quietly
and feed on small aquatic animals.
They may inflict painful bites on humans. They do not usually fly although wings are funcitonal. The eggs are laid in the tissues of
aquatic plants. Waterscorpions feed mainly on
invertebrates, but sometimes will even consume small fish or tadpoles.
Respiration in the adult is through the caudal process, which consists of a
pair of half-tubes that are locked
together to form a siphon. In immature forms the siphon is undeveloped and
breathing takes place through six pairs of abdominal spiracles. The eggs, which are laid above the
waterline in mud, decomposing vegetation, the stems of plants or rotting
wood, are supplied with air by filamentous processes which vary in number
among the genera. = = = = = = = = = = = = References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references
may be found at: MELVYL
Library] Lansbury, I., T.E.
Woodward (1974). "A new genus of Nepidae from Australia with a revised
classification of the family (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)". Australian Journal of Entomology 13 (3): 219–227. Wright,
J. 1997. Water Scorpions Northern State University, South Dakota. Thesis. |