Amazonian Water Scorpion vs Elegant Grasshopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Amazonian Water Scorpion | Elegant Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ranatra spp. | Zonocerus elegans |
| Order | Hemiptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Nepidae | Pyrgomorphidae |
| Size | 30-50 mm including siphon | 25-40 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Throughout South America | Southern Africa, East Africa |
| 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.
Elegant Grasshopper
A strikingly colorful grasshopper with green, yellow, black, and orange warning patterns. It feeds on toxic plants and is distasteful to predators.
Did You Know?
They accumulate toxins from the poisonous plants they eat, making them so unpalatable that even starving birds refuse to eat them.