Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
family Nepidae

family Nepidae

9.9
A group of water insects called water scorpions with long bodies and a tube for breathing
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Nepidae
  • The family Nepidae is recognized for its unique breathing tubes and predatory habits.

Examples

  • The family Nepidae is commonly referred to as water scorpions due to their appearance.

  • Scientists discovered a new species within the family Nepidae in Southeast Asian wetlands.

  • Members of the family Nepidae are known for their long, slender bodies and raptorial forelegs.

  • The family Nepidae includes various species of water scorpions.

  • Did you know that the family Nepidae is found in freshwater habitats?

  • In the family Nepidae, species can be found lurking near the edges of ponds.

  • Aquatic ecologists study the family Nepidae to understand their role in freshwater ecosystems.

Synonyms

Nepidae
vsfamily Nepidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of water insects with long bodies and front legs for catching prey

focuses instead on long bodies and the breathing tube for air

Surface Forms

family Nepidae singular
families Nepidae plural

Morphology

family + Nepidae

The phrase combines the taxonomic noun 'family' (a scientific grouping) with the group name 'Nepidae', so its meaning — the taxonomic family called Nepidae — is directly derivable from the parts. Taxonomic formulations like this are cross-linguistically regular and should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Family Nepidae is a scientific name for a group of insects that live in water and look a bit like small scorpions. They have long bodies and a breathing tube at the back, so the image of water and scorpions led people to call them 'water scorpions', which is why the name now refers to aquatic insects with long bodies and breathing tubes.