Paleoentomology
412 million years of insects

The insects are the most diverse lineage of all life.  They are also among the most ancient of terrestrial animal lineages, perhaps originating in the earliest of terrestrial ecosystems over 412 million years ago.  Today entomologists are stunned by the diversity of the group and find little time to contend with the potentially hundreds of millions of  insect species that may have existed throughout the entire, long history of the class.  Yet, a paleontological perspective is critical for understanding the evolution of any group, particularly one as varied and important as the insects. 

Paleoentomology is a field that remains in its infancy although it is currently experiencing a Renaissance, principally in Europe.  The field is wide open and many discoveries are waiting to be made across the entirety of this vast class of animals.  

The book, Evolution of the Insects (March 2005), attempts to provide the first synthesis of paleoentomology with neoentomology, highlighting how information from the former greatly enhances our knowledge of the latter (and vice versa).

Please also visit the Paleontological Institute and Division of Invertebrate Paleontology websites.

Nogueirapis silacea (Willie, 1959) Mexican amber (Oligocene)	Arctotypus sinuatus Martynov; a giant griffenfly (Protodonata) from the Late Permian of Russia

December 2007