Nepa

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Infraorder: Nepomorpha
Superfamily: Nepoidea
Family: Nepidae
Genus: Nepa

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nepa: //ˈnepa//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Nepa apiculata by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Nepa is a genus of true bugs in the family Nepidae, commonly known as water scorpions, characterized by their long, slender body and predatory behavior in freshwater environments.

Physical Characteristics

Body length 18-20 mm.

Habitat

Ponds, slow moving streams.

Distribution

One species in North America; four species in Europe, Asia, and North Africa; found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.