Water Scorpion

About the Water Scorpion

Not a true scorpion but an aquatic true bug. It breathes through a long tail tube that functions as a snorkel, reaching to the water surface. It is an ambush predator, grasping prey with powerful front legs. Its bite is painful to humans but not dangerous. It can remain motionless for hours waiting for prey. Over 250 species. Some resemble dead leaves for camouflage. They are found in still or slow-moving water. They can fly but rarely do. They are indicators of healthy pond ecosystems. They have been around for 200 million years.