For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Water Scorpion - they breath through their tails

My goodness!! I am glad I don't have too!! This is the Stick Water Scorpion (Ranatra) family Nepidae.

They are found in standing pools of water and are quite large 4-5 inches in body length and then an extra 6 inches of tail which is raised to the surface of the water and is used as a breathing siphon.