Prehistoric insects

Art illustration - Prehistoric Insects - Meganeura: ( "large nerves") is an extinct genus of insects protodonatos Meganeuridae family. Among its species is Meganeura monyi, a kindred with current dragonflies insect, who lived in the Carboniferous period (300 Ma ago). With a wingspan of over 75 cm, it is the largest known species of insects that ever existed on Earth.

The small and odd-looking pterosaur Anurognathus ammoni

A BULKY centipede-like creature that died out some 300 million years ago is the largest arthropod yet discovered. Paleontologists in Germany examined a partial fossil unearthed near Jena in the east of the country.

Ants comprise one lineage of the triumvirate of eusocial insects and experienced their early diversification within the Cretaceous. The success of ants is generally attributed to their remarkable social behavior. Recent studies suggest that the early branching lineages of extant ants formed small colonies of either subterranean or epigeic, solitary specialist predators.

More horny dinos. Did I just say that? I did not just say that...

Arthropleura (name meaning "Jointed ribs") was a genus of giant herbivorous millipede. It grew to around 6 feet in length, due in part to the high oxygen levels of the Carboniferous period, which allowed this creature, as well as many other contemporary arthropods, to grow to such large sizes. Many fossilized footprints from Arthropleura can been found on the coast of Scotland. By current estimates, it is the largest known land invertebrate discovered to date, and as such, it would have had…

Art illustration - Prehistoric Insects - Clatrotitan andersoni: was a large insect distantly related to dragonflies. The fossil wings of Clatrotitan, found near Sydney, tell us something quite unusual – this insect was noisy. The wing had a ‘stridulating’ structure dedicated to making noise. By rubbing the wings against each other, a deep, resonating call was made, similar to modern cicada calls.

Art illustration - Prehistoric Insects - Coxoplectoptera: is a primitive, extinct order of winged insects (Pterygota) contained in a single family, Mickoleitiidae, 40 fossils discovered in 2007. larvae have been found. Coxoplectoptera belongs to the stem group of mayflies (Ephemeroptera). Winged adults and larvae were predators aquatic forelegs prey, reminiscent of the mantis. Larvae had a peculiar habit crustaceans of the genus Gammarus.