Water Scorpion vs Small Ballast Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Water Scorpion | Small Ballast Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nepa cinerea | Silo pallipes |
| Order | Hemiptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Nepidae | Goeridae |
| Size | 18-22 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Small Ballast Caddisfly
A small caddisfly that cements large pebbles to its mineral case for ballast in fast water. Found exclusively in clean calcareous streams.
Did You Know?
Larvae select ballast stones of remarkably uniform size relative to their body mass.