No ID needed on this one, just wanted to share this gorgeous and very relaxed water scorpion I plucked out completely barehanded while sampling for aquatic macroinvertebrates. They were super chill (or possibly just cold, considering they were near the outflow of a very chilly stream that comes down from the mountains) and weren’t terribly bothered by being lifted and examined. It took a surprising amount of coaxing to get them to stretch their front legs out for that last pic.

Seen at the Audubon aquarium in New Orleans, the stick body style of water scorpions! They had a whole tank! The connected insectarium also had an exhibit with some of the larger, wider body style, but I forgot to get a picture of those. Sorry for the picture quality, I got really excited and couldn’t stay still.

It's inspired by @burrowsmp lore yummo- *eats*

Ranatra fusca “Brown Waterscorpion” Nepidae

Lake Inez, Lolo National Forest, MT May 23, 2017 Robert Niese

Waterscorpions in the genus Ranatra, Nepidae, Hemiptera

Waterscorpions (sometimes called water stick insects) are predatory, freshwater true bugs found throughout the world. Their raptorial front limbs are used for grasping prey, which includes other insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. They breathe air through a tail-like siphon on their rear end. Despite their almost exclusively aquatic lifestyle, they can and will fly, but do so rarely.

AKA Water mantis, water scorpions or water stick-insects. They're none of those things. Instead they're predatory aquatic true bugs with raptorial forelimbs and a hollow tail extension they use as a snorkle.

Australia has three species,but there's many others elsewhere in the world - South America is especially well-provided.

Eggs are laid just below the water's surface, on plants or in mud, and in ideal condition can mature to adulthood in a few months.