Water scorpion: reproduction, nutrition

A water scorpion is a kind of bedbug that inhabits water bodies where there is no current or it is insignificant. The favorite place is the water environment with abundant vegetation. Plants for water scorpions are a kind of islets on which these insects and their larvae live. Moreover, adults have tenacious paws for reliable retention on plants.

Insects of Invisibility

These insects do not have sufficient mobility, they do not hurry too much, moving from place to place. In addition, compared to other beetles inhabiting the body of water, the bugs swim very badly. Therefore, to satisfy the need for food, the water scorpion is nothing else than sitting on a plant and waiting for the moment when the production itself will approach. The water scorpion has wings that are not fully used, because they are very weakly developed.

Because of the characteristic hiding color of the water scorpion, it is almost impossible to notice at once among the plants - it differs little from the leaf floating on the water. The disguise only benefits the water scorpion. Spending most of the time in a stationary state, it, on the one hand, remains unnoticed by enemies, and on the other hand it helps to easily hunt.

Diet

Remaining motionless, a water scorpion instantly comes to life, as soon as an unsuspecting victim approaches it. A sharp movement - and the victim is in the front paws of the hunter, which are more like jaws than on limbs: the knees are saber-like, squeezing to the hips with a force felt for the victim, are embedded in the longitudinal groove. A complete analogy with a folding knife, the blade of which, turning, hides in a special slot of the handle.

Like a powerful gripe, the unfortunate victim is compressed by the sharp jaws of the water scorpion, leaving her no chance. The pre-death agony of prey ceases after the sharp, segmented proboscis has entered it. The strength of this tool can be judged from the fact that a person touching an insect with a finger, receives an injection that causes painful sensations. Not everyone can imagine what a water scorpion looks like. Photos will help to see its true shape.

Method of breathing water scorpion

The insect inhales atmospheric air. The respiratory process is due to a long process. In an adult insect such an organ can be found in the back of its calf. It has the shape of a tube, which consists of two facing grooves facing each other. Air enters the procession after its end emerges from under the water. Moving along the respiratory tube, the air first accumulates in a closed space under the wings , and then goes to the abdominal spiracles.

Unlike adults, the larvae, instead of the respiratory siphon, which they do not have, use small outlets for breathing. This process, located at the end of the body of the larva, allows you to spend the necessary time, submerged in water. Not at all dangerous for a human water scorpion, the bite causes only a slight discomfort.

Reproduction of water scorpions

The insect reproduces by laying the eggs in the internal cavity of the stem of the plant. Usually this 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 are relatively large and oblong-oval in shape. One pole has a corolla, which consists on the average of 7 (ie from 6 to 8) appendages in the form of strands. The egg is not fully immersed in the internal tissues of the aquatic plant - the appendages that look out from the outside are opened, forming a rosette. Obviously, the appendages are necessary for air to enter the egg. Under favorable conditions, the water scorpion of the ordinary breeds perfectly.

Just appeared in the light, the larvae at first glance are not much different from their parents. A distinctive feature is the absence of a respiratory tube, which will appear after the larva has the last molt.