Water scorpion at spawning ground
Webcam image captured by Hagnat, LK forum
Translation Liis
Water scorpion at the river trout spawning ground
Water scorpion Vesihark Nepa cinerea
Usually we meet the water scorpion preferably in standing water, but in summer sometimes also on the banks of water bodies. The water-living scorpion belongs to the water scorpion or Nepidae family. Its body length amounts to a couple of centimetres, the broad and flat body resembles a leaf (for hunting in every way a good camouflage) and the scorpion moves slowly along the bottom of the water body or aquatic plants.
The forelegs of the predator have developed into powerful gripping claws; for walking it uses the middle and hind legs. At the tip of the abdomen we can see a long breathing tube which it uses to breath oxygen from the air. Incidentally, it even has wings but we meet the scorpion in flight extremely seldom. As already stated a predator, preying on whoever it can overpower. They winter in the bottom mud but in the spawning ground with spring water it tumbled round even today.
Just in case: a summer photo taken on the ground, that shows the insect better.
Photo Arne Ader
Water scorpion
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