Speckled Wood vs Water Scorpion
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Speckled Wood | Water Scorpion |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pararge aegeria | Nepa cinerea |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nepidae |
| Size | 40-45 mm wingspan | 18-22 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, Central Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Speckled Wood
Brown butterfly with cream or orange spots and small eyespots on hindwings. Males defend sunlit patches on the forest floor.
Did You Know?
It is the only European butterfly that overwinters as either a caterpillar or a pupa.
Water Scorpion
A flat aquatic bug that lurks in shallow water resembling a dead leaf. It breathes through a long tail-like siphon that breaks the water surface.
Did You Know?
Despite its name and scorpion-like raptorial forelegs, the water scorpion is a weak swimmer and instead ambushes prey from vegetation.