Water Scorpions are insects known as bugs because they have piercing and sucking mouth parts. They can be found throughout the country in ponds, lakes, shallow slow-flowing water and even in stagnant water. They are also known as ‘toe biters’ because they sometimes bite your toes. The bite is not really harmful, but it can be painful.

The Water Scorpion is often mistaken for a small dead leaf because it is flat and a blackish brown colour. It also keeps very still in water, just like a leaf. It has a long tail which the Water Scorpion sticks out of the water when it wants to breathe. It breathes through its tail. It has two large black eyes and three pairs of legs. Even though Water Scorpions live in water, they don’t really like swimming. They just like clinging onto water plants for most of the time.

Water Scorpions have tiny antennae on their heads which they use to feel their way around dark muddy waters. They also have two pairs of wings, but they very rarely fly because their wing muscles are often under developed. They eat tadpoles, water worms, water fleas, lice and also insect larvae. They suck the body fluids out of their prey with their piercing and sucking mouth parts.