About

An underwater predator, the water scorpion hides among dead leaves where it waits to ambush its prey (such as tadpoles and small fish) with its grabbing pincer-like legs. It is known to bite, but its not very painful for humans. It lives in still-water ponds and lakes, and is common around the shallow edges of garden ponds. It is not a true scorpion and is a poor swimmer, preferring to move by walking. Mating takes place in spring and the females lay their eggs at night among algae or plants just below the surface of the water. The larvae hatch and progress to adulthood through a series of moults known as an 'incomplete metamorphosis'.