Nepa cinerea adult Insect Water Scorpion Aquatic Predaceous Hemipterus Heteroptera

Description

Origin : Italy (Sardegna)

Age : adult

Nepa cinerea cm 2.5-3 Insect Water Scorpion Aquatic Predaceous Hemipterus Heteroptera, adult stage.
Family: Nepidae.

Nepidae is a family of exclusively aquatic Heteropteran insects in the order Hemiptera. They are commonly called water scorpions for their superficial resemblance to scorpions, due to their raptorial forelegs and the presence of a long slender process at the posterior end of the abdomen, resembling a tail.
Members of the genus Ranatra, the most widespread and species-rich genus, are sometimes called needle bugs or water stick insects as they are slenderer than Nepa.
While water scorpions do not sting with their tail, they do have a painful bite by their pointed proboscis, but this is much less harmful to humans than a true scorpion's sting.