Which family is referred to as Waterscorpions?

• A. Nepidae (Waterscorpions)
• B. Phasmatodea (Walkingsticks)
• C. Gryllotalpidae (Mole Crickets)
• D. Psocoptera (Book/Bark Lice)

Answer: (A)

Waterscorpions are aquatic predatory insects in the family Nepidae, a group within the true bugs (Hemiptera). They get their name from their long, slender bodies and the tail-like breathing structures at the end of the abdomen, which act like snorkels so they can stay underwater while still taking air at the surface. They use their powerful, grasping front legs to seize prey such as aquatic insects and tadpoles, while their hind legs help them maneuver through the water. In habit and form, they’re characteristic of freshwater habitats like ponds and slow streams.

This sets them apart from the other options: walkingsticks belong to Phasmatodea and are terrestrial herbivores with stick-like bodies; mole crickets are Gryllotalpidae that live underground and have fossorial forelegs; booklice are Psocoptera and are small, often found on surfaces like bark or books, not aquatic.