A type of water beetle, specimen giant water bug, dragonfly nymph, aquatic insect, tarantula, centipede, millipede, scorpion

Scientific Name: Unknown

Common Names: Taikouchi / Taiko-uchi / Taiko-tataki / Taiko-daki / Hongnianghua

The difference between a water scorpion (Tagame) and a Taikouchi is their physique and the presence of a long breathing tube; the one with a long breathing tube is the Taikouchi. Also, there is the water mantis (Mizukamakiri) which is an aquatic insect with a long breathing tube, but its body shape is stick-like, making it easy to distinguish from the flattened Taikouchi.

The Taikouchi (scientific name: Laccotrephes japonensis) is a species of aquatic insect (aquatic hemipteran) belonging to the family Nepidae in the order Hemiptera. It is also called Taiko-tataki and Hongnianghua.

The Japanese common name Taikouchi originates from the resemblance of its foreleg movements to the gesture of beating a drum. The English name water scorpion is not specific to this species but is a general term for insects belonging to the family Nepidae. Therefore, the genus Ranatra (water mantis) and Nepa hoffmanni (Hime-taikouchi) are also referred to as water scorpions. The Japanese common name is sometimes used as a general term for the family Nepidae.

We apologize, but we cannot guarantee against grading down due to shipping. We will send a specimen from Nepa, Lampang Province, Thailand.
I measured the total length to be 70mm. It was collected in February 2004.