List of Transitional Fossils - Evolution of Insects

Evolution of Insects

The Insect Evolutionary Series
Appearance Taxa Relationships Status Description Image
400 Ma

Genus:

  • Rhyniognatha

The world’s oldest known insect.
400 Ma

Genus:

  • Rhyniella

Early springtail.
300 Ma

Genus:

  • Archimylacris

An ancestral to cockroaches, mantids and termites.
316.5 Ma

Genus:

  • Aphthoroblattina

A primitive cockroach.
140 Ma

Genus:

  • Archaeolepis

The earliest known Lepidopteran.
92 Ma

Genus:

  • Melittosphex

The oldest known species of bee.
80 Ma

Genus:

  • Sphecomyrma

The earliest known species of ant.
56 - 34 Ma

Genus:

  • Eophyllium
 First leaf insect from the fossil record.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Transitional Fossils

Famous quotes containing the words evolution of, evolution and/or insects:

    “Historians will have to face the fact that natural selection determined the evolution of cultures in the same manner as it did that of species.”
    —Konrad Lorenz (1903–1989)

    “What we think of as our sensitivity is only the higher evolution of terror in a poor dumb beast. We suffer for nothing. Our own death wish is our only real tragedy.”
    —Mario Puzo (b. 1920)

    “swerving
    perfectly,
    the fierce, brilliant faith
    that pierces the heart all summer
    and sips bitter insects steeped in nectar ...”
    —Denise Levertov (b. 1923)