"Water scorpion" redirects here. For the extinct paleozoic arthropod group commonly called sea scorpions, see Eurypterid.
Nepidae is a family of exclusively aquatic Heteropteraninsects in the order Hemiptera.[1] 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.[2] There are 14 genera in the family, in two subfamilies, Nepinae and Ranatrinae. 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.[3]
While water scorpions do not sting with their tail,[4] they do have a painful bite (strictly speaking a sting by their pointed proboscis), but this is much less harmful to humans than a true scorpion's sting.[5]
Nepidae are found on all continents except Antarctica. They mostly inhabit stagnant or slow-moving freshwater habitats like ponds, marshes, canals and streams.[6][7] Exceptionally they have also been recorded from hypersaline lakes and brackish lagoons,[6] the Australian genus Goondnomdanepa is restricted to flowing waters,[7] and Nepa anophthalma is adapted to life in caves in Romania.[8]
Nepidae have a tail-like siphon or breathing tube, which in some species like this Laccotrephes can be even longer than the body[9]
Nepidae are brown insects, but some species have a bright red abdomen that can be seen when the wings are open. Their body is broad and flat (subfamily Nepinae) or long and thin (subfamily Ranatrinae). They are rather poor swimmers and typically crawl about on aquatic vegetation.[9] They can fly, but this is infrequently seen.[7] In most species the body is between 1.5 and 4.5 cm (0.6–1.8 in) long,[9] although the largest such as the East Asian Ranatra chinensis and South American R. magna can approach 6 cm (2.4 in).[10][11] Adults of Ranatra australis, which is found in the southern parts of North America, are three to three and a half inches long. [12]
Respiration in the adult is achieved by means of the caudal process, which consists of a pair of half-tubes capable of being locked together to form a siphon. Air is conducted through it to the tracheae at the apex of the abdomen when the tip of the tube is thrust above the surface of the water (similar to a snorkel).[13][3][9] In some species the siphon is longer than the body,[9] but in others it is shorter, in a few even less than one-tenth of the body length.[14] In immature forms the siphon is often underdeveloped and respiration takes place through six pairs of abdominal spiracles.[13][3]
To keep their orientation in the water they have three pairs of “static sense organs”, small oval structures closely associated with the fourth, fifth, and sixth abdominal spiracles.[15]
Their frontal legs are modified into raptorial appendages that are used to grab their prey. They feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as other insects, but occasionally take small fish or tadpoles. The eggs, which are laid above the waterline in mud, decomposing vegetation, the stems of plants or rotting wood, are supplied with air by filamentous processes which vary in number among the genera.[3]
Subfamilies and genera
With about 100 species, Ranatra is the most diverse genus[10]
Nepidae has around 250 species in 14 genera divided into two subfamilies, Nepinae and Ranatrinae.[3][10]
Among these the most diverse are the widespread Ranatra (about 100 species)[10] and Laccotrephes (about 60),[16] but the family also includes species-poor genera, like the EthiopianBorborophilus, Nepella, Nepitella and Paranepa (each with one species),[14] Indian Montonepa (one species), Philippine Borborophyes (one species),[17] and Australian Austronepa (one species) and Goondnomdanepa (three species).[18]
Araripenepa from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of Brazil is the oldest known member of the family, and is the sister group to remaining genera.[19]
Four genera are in this subfamily: Austronepa and Goondnomdanepa are restricted to Australia. Cercotmetus is from Asia to northern Australia and resembles Ranatra (Worldwide distribution), although the former has a distinctly shorter siphon.[10]
^ abcdeI. Lansbury (1974). "A new genus of Nepidae from Australia with a revised classification of the family (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 13 (3): 219–227. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1974.tb02176.x.
^ abYe.V. Anufriyeva; N.V. Shadrin (2016). "First Record of Ranatra linearis (Hemiptera, Nepidae) in Hypersaline Water Bodies of the Crimea". Hydrobiological Journal. 52 (2): 56–61.
^ abc"Nepidae". The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
^Vasile Decu; Magdalena Gruia; S. L. Keffer; Serban Mircea Sarbu (1994). "Stygobiotic Waterscorpion, Nepa anophthalma, n. sp. (Heteroptera: Nepidae), from a Sulfurous Cave in Romania". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 87 (6): 755–761. doi:10.1093/aesa/87.6.755.
^ abcdefRandall T. Schuh; James Alexander Slater (1996). True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera:Heteroptera): Classification and Natural History (2 ed.). Cornell University Press. pp. 114–116. ISBN978-0801420665.
^ abcdeP. Chen; N. Nieser; J.Z. Ho (2004). "Review of Chinese Ranatrinae (Hemiptera: Nepidae), with descriptions of four new species of Ranatra Fabricius". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. 147 (1): 81–102. doi:10.1163/22119434-900000142.
^Heckman, C.W. (2011). Encyclopedia of South American Aquatic Insects: Hemiptera - Heteroptera. Springer. ISBN978-94-007-0704-7.
^ abOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Water-scorpion". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 386.
^ abS.L. Keffer; J.T. Polhemus; J.E. McPherson (1989). "Notes on Critical Character States in Telmatotrephes (Heteroptera: Nepidae)". Florida Entomologist. 72 (4): 626–629. doi:10.2307/3495037. JSTOR 3495037.
^The Semiaquatic and Aquatic Hemiptera of California
^Polhemus, John T.; Keffer, Steven L. (Spring 1999). "Notes on the Genus Laccotrephes Stål (Heteroptera: Nepidae) in the Malay Archipelago, with the Description of Two New Species". Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 107 (1): 1–13. JSTOR 25010286.
^Lansbury, I. (1974). "Montonepa gen.n. from India with notes on the genus Borborophyes Stål (Hemiptera-Heteroptera, Nepidae)". Zoologica Scripta. 2 (2–3): 111–118. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.1974.tb00742.x. S2CID 84909022.
^Lansbury, I. (1978). "A review of Goondnomdanepa Lansbury (Heteroptera: Nepidae)". Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 29 (1): 117–126. doi:10.1071/MF9780117.
^Nel, André; Pella, Cristian (2020-06-30). "The oldest water scorpion discovered in the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation (Hemiptera: Nepidae)". Palaeoentomology. 3 (3): 301–308. doi:10.11646/palaeoentomology.3.3.10. ISSN 2624-2834.
External links
Media related to Nepidae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Nepidae at Wikispecies
Water Scorpions
Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Hemiptera
March 07, 2023
nepidae, water, scorpion, redirects, here, extinct, paleozoic, arthropod, group, commonly, called, scorpions, eurypterid, family, exclusively, aquatic, heteropteran, insects, order, hemiptera, they, commonly, called, water, scorpions, their, superficial, resem. Water scorpion redirects here For the extinct paleozoic arthropod group commonly called sea scorpions see Eurypterid Nepidae is a family of exclusively aquatic Heteropteran insects in the order Hemiptera 1 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 2 There are 14 genera in the family in two subfamilies Nepinae and Ranatrinae 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 3 NepidaeTemporal range Aptian Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NNepa cinereaRanatra linearisScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HemipteraSuborder HeteropteraInfraorder NepomorphaSuperfamily NepoideaFamily NepidaeLatreille 1802Subfamilies GeneraSee textWhile water scorpions do not sting with their tail 4 they do have a painful bite strictly speaking a sting by their pointed proboscis but this is much less harmful to humans than a true scorpion s sting 5 Contents 1 Range and habitat 2 Appearance and ecology 3 Subfamilies and genera 3 1 Ranatrinae water stick insects 3 2 Nepinae water scorpions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksRange and habitat EditNepidae are found on all continents except Antarctica They mostly inhabit stagnant or slow moving freshwater habitats like ponds marshes canals and streams 6 7 Exceptionally they have also been recorded from hypersaline lakes and brackish lagoons 6 the Australian genus Goondnomdanepa is restricted to flowing waters 7 and Nepa anophthalma is adapted to life in caves in Romania 8 Appearance and ecology Edit Nepa cinerea with open forewings revealing its usually hidden hindwings and red abdomen 9 Nepidae have a tail like siphon or breathing tube which in some species like this Laccotrephes can be even longer than the body 9 Nepidae are brown insects but some species have a bright red abdomen that can be seen when the wings are open Their body is broad and flat subfamily Nepinae or long and thin subfamily Ranatrinae They are rather poor swimmers and typically crawl about on aquatic vegetation 9 They can fly but this is infrequently seen 7 In most species the body is between 1 5 and 4 5 cm 0 6 1 8 in long 9 although the largest such as the East Asian Ranatra chinensis and South American R magna can approach 6 cm 2 4 in 10 11 Adults of Ranatra australis which is found in the southern parts of North America are three to three and a half inches long 12 Respiration in the adult is achieved by means of the caudal process which consists of a pair of half tubes capable of being locked together to form a siphon Air is conducted through it to the tracheae at the apex of the abdomen when the tip of the tube is thrust above the surface of the water similar to a snorkel 13 3 9 In some species the siphon is longer than the body 9 but in others it is shorter in a few even less than one tenth of the body length 14 In immature forms the siphon is often underdeveloped and respiration takes place through six pairs of abdominal spiracles 13 3 To keep their orientation in the water they have three pairs of static sense organs small oval structures closely associated with the fourth fifth and sixth abdominal spiracles 15 Their frontal legs are modified into raptorial appendages that are used to grab their prey They feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as other insects but occasionally take small fish or tadpoles The eggs which are laid above the waterline in mud decomposing vegetation the stems of plants or rotting wood are supplied with air by filamentous processes which vary in number among the genera 3 Subfamilies and genera Edit With about 100 species Ranatra is the most diverse genus 10 Nepidae has around 250 species in 14 genera divided into two subfamilies Nepinae and Ranatrinae 3 10 Among these the most diverse are the widespread Ranatra about 100 species 10 and Laccotrephes about 60 16 but the family also includes species poor genera like the Ethiopian Borborophilus Nepella Nepitella and Paranepa each with one species 14 Indian Montonepa one species Philippine Borborophyes one species 17 and Australian Austronepa one species and Goondnomdanepa three species 18 Araripenepa from the Early Cretaceous Aptian Crato Formation of Brazil is the oldest known member of the family and is the sister group to remaining genera 19 Ranatrinae water stick insects Edit Four genera are in this subfamily Austronepa and Goondnomdanepa are restricted to Australia Cercotmetus is from Asia to northern Australia and resembles Ranatra Worldwide distribution although the former has a distinctly shorter siphon 10 Austronepa Menke amp Stange 1964 Cercotmetus Amyot amp Serville 1843 Goondnomdanepa Lansbury 1974 Ranatra Fabricius 1790Nepinae water scorpions Edit Borborophilus Borborophyes Curicta Laccotrephes Montonepa Nepa Nepella Nepitella syn Nepita Paranepa TelmatotrephesSee also EditEurypterid unrelated extinct arthropods that are commonly called sea scorpionsReferences Edit Nepidae Tree of life project Chisholm 1911 a b c d e I Lansbury 1974 A new genus of Nepidae from Australia with a revised classification of the family Hemiptera Heteroptera Australian Journal of Entomology 13 3 219 227 doi 10 1111 j 1440 6055 1974 tb02176 x Water Scorpions Archived from the original on 2002 08 27 Water scorpion insect a b Ye V Anufriyeva N V Shadrin 2016 First Record of Ranatra linearis Hemiptera Nepidae in Hypersaline Water Bodies of the Crimea Hydrobiological Journal 52 2 56 61 a b c Nepidae The Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre Retrieved 6 April 2018 Vasile Decu Magdalena Gruia S L Keffer Serban Mircea Sarbu 1994 Stygobiotic Waterscorpion Nepa anophthalma n sp Heteroptera Nepidae from a Sulfurous Cave in Romania Annals of the Entomological Society of America 87 6 755 761 doi 10 1093 aesa 87 6 755 a b c d e f Randall T Schuh James Alexander Slater 1996 True Bugs of the World Hemiptera Heteroptera Classification and Natural History 2 ed Cornell University Press pp 114 116 ISBN 978 0801420665 a b c d e P Chen N Nieser J Z Ho 2004 Review of Chinese Ranatrinae Hemiptera Nepidae with descriptions of four new species of Ranatra Fabricius Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 147 1 81 102 doi 10 1163 22119434 900000142 Heckman C W 2011 Encyclopedia of South American Aquatic Insects Hemiptera Heteroptera Springer ISBN 978 94 007 0704 7 Taryn B Griffith and Jennifer L Gillett Kaufman The southern water scorpion Ranatra fresh water and saline water University of Florida 2020 Online at http entnemdept ufl edu creatures AQUATIC Ranatra html text The 20southern 20water 20scorpion 2C 20Ranatra fresh 20water 20and 20saline 20water a b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Water scorpion Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 386 a b S L Keffer J T Polhemus J E McPherson 1989 Notes on Critical Character States in Telmatotrephes Heteroptera Nepidae Florida Entomologist 72 4 626 629 doi 10 2307 3495037 JSTOR 3495037 The Semiaquatic and Aquatic Hemiptera of California Polhemus John T Keffer Steven L Spring 1999 Notes on the Genus Laccotrephes Stal Heteroptera Nepidae in the Malay Archipelago with the Description of Two New Species Journal of the New York Entomological Society 107 1 1 13 JSTOR 25010286 Lansbury I 1974 Montonepa gen n from India with notes on the genus Borborophyes Stal Hemiptera Heteroptera Nepidae Zoologica Scripta 2 2 3 111 118 doi 10 1111 j 1463 6409 1974 tb00742 x S2CID 84909022 Lansbury I 1978 A review of Goondnomdanepa Lansbury Heteroptera Nepidae Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 29 1 117 126 doi 10 1071 MF9780117 Nel Andre Pella Cristian 2020 06 30 The oldest water scorpion discovered in the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation Hemiptera Nepidae Palaeoentomology 3 3 301 308 doi 10 11646 palaeoentomology 3 3 10 ISSN 2624 2834 External links Edit Media related to Nepidae at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Nepidae at Wikispecies Water Scorpions Hemiptera Nepidae Insects of Britain and Ireland the families of Hemiptera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nepidae amp oldid 1132181056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
