Water scorpion is a species of bugs that lives in water bodies where there is no current or it is insignificant. A favorite place is the aquatic environment with abundant vegetation. Plants for water scorpions are a kind of islands on which these insects and their larvae reside. Moreover, adults have tenacious paws for reliable retention on plants.
Invisible Insects
These insects are not sufficiently mobile, not in a hurry, moving from place to place. In addition, compared with other bugs that inhabit the pond, bugs swim very poorly. Therefore, to satisfy the need for food, the water scorpion has no choice but to sit on any plant and wait for the moment when the prey itself approaches. Water scorpion has wings that are not fully used, since they are very poorly developed.
Due to the characteristic hiding color of the water scorpion, it is almost impossible to immediately notice among the plants - it differs little from a leaf floating on the water. Disguise is only for the benefit of the water scorpion. Spending most of the time in a stationary state, on the one hand, it remains unnoticed by enemies, and on the other hand, it helps to hunt easily.
Diet
Remaining motionless, the water scorpion instantly comes to life as soon as an unsuspecting victim approaches it. A sharp movement - and the victim is in the front legs of the hunter, which are more like jaws than limbs: the knees are saber-shaped, compressing to the hips with tangible force for the victim, they are embedded in the longitudinal groove. A complete analogy with a folding knife, the blade of which, turning, is hidden in a special slot in the handle.
As if with a powerful vice, the unfortunate victim is compressed by the sharp jaws of a water scorpion, leaving her no chance. The death throes of prey cease after an acute jointed proboscis is pierced into it. The strength of this tool can be judged by the fact that a person touching an insect with his finger receives an injection that causes painful sensations. Not everyone imagines what a water scorpion looks like. Photos will help to see its real appearance.
Water scorpion breathing method
The insect inhales atmospheric air. The respiratory process occurs due to the long process. In an adult insect, such an organ can be found in the back of its body. It has the shape of a tube, which consists of 2 grooves facing each other. Air enters the process after its end pops out from under the water. Moving along the breathing tube, the air initially accumulates in the enclosed space located under the wings , and then goes into the abdominal spiracles.
Unlike adults, larvae use small processes for breathing instead of a respiratory siphon, which they do not have. Such a process, located at the end of the body of the larva, allows you to spend the necessary time, immersed under water. Water scorpion is not at all dangerous for a person , a bite causes only a little discomfort.
Propagation of water scorpions
The insect multiplies by laying a female egg in the inner cavity of the plant stem. This usually happens in early June.
The name "water scorpion" does not mean at all that this insect is always on the water. Sometimes he wants to crawl ashore and soak up the sun.
Eggs with future offspring of relatively large sizes and oblong-oval shape. One of its poles has a corolla, which consists on average of 7 (i.e., from 6 to 8) appendages in the form of threads. The egg is not completely immersed in the internal tissues of the aquatic plant - the appendages looking from the outside open up, forming a rosette. Apparently, appendages are necessary for air to enter the egg. In favorable conditions, the common scorpion breeds perfectly.
Just born, the larvae at first glance are not much different from their parents. A distinctive feature is the absence of a breathing tube, which will appear after the last molt occurs in the larva.