CLASSIFICATION OF NEPA (WATER SCORPION)
KINGDOM :- ANIMALIA (Multicellular eukaryotic organisms)
PHYLUM :- ARTHROPODA (Jointed appendages.)
CLASS :- INSECTA (3 pairs of legs.)
ORDER :- HEMIPTERA (Metamorphosis gradual.)
FAMILY :- NEPIDAE
GENUS :- Nepa (Water scorpion)
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in most of Europe, including the British Isles, as well as North Africa and southern and northern Asia.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Nepa is commonly found in shallow water. Lives in ponds, small rivers, and stagnant water, and feeds upon aquatic animals, especially insects.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF NEPA (WATER SCORPION)
- Commonly called as water scorpion.
- Body is short dorsoventrally compressed, and divisible into head, thorax and abdomen.
- Head contains 3-jointed antennae and eyes. Mouth parts form a long rostrum adapted for piercing and sucking. The pronotum is large.
- Respiratory tube is most striking and consists of two spine line processes.
- Three pairs of false spiracles are situated respectively on 3rd, 4th and 5th ventral abdominal segments. False spiracles consist of sieve-like structures with the perforations occluded by a delicate membrane.
- Forewings are not uniform. The proximal portion is hardened and distal portion membranous. At rest the wings overlap and lie flat above the abdomen.
- Just below thorax is scutellum.
- Female is provided with a pointed, toothed ovipositor. Sexes separate. Thorax contains walking legs. The tarsi usually 3-jointed.
- Eggs are deposited in chains, the ova adhering to one another by means of seven long filaments, radiating from one extremity.
IDENTIFICATION
The insect has 3-jointed antennae and above features, hence it is Nepa.
