Amazonian Water Scorpion vs Box Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Amazonian Water Scorpion | Box Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ranatra spp. | Gonocerus acuteangulatus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Nepidae | Coreidae |
| Size | 30-50 mm including siphon | 11-14 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Heathland |
| Diet | Predators | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout South America | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Amazonian Water Scorpion
A stick-like aquatic bug with an extremely elongated body and long breathing siphon at the rear. It hangs motionless near the surface, ambushing passing prey.
Did You Know?
Despite the common name, it is not a scorpion at all and is completely harmless to humans though it can deliver a mild prick.
Box Bug
A slender, reddish-brown coreid bug historically restricted to box trees in southern England but now expanding its range northward. It feeds on developing fruits and seeds of box and hawthorn.
Did You Know?
Once Britain's rarest shieldbug confined to a single box woodland, it has expanded dramatically northward since 2000 due to warming temperatures.