The Largest Insect Ever Existed Was A Giant 'dragonfly' ~ Fossil Of A Meganeuridae

The Largest Insect Ever Existed Was a Giant 'Dragonfly'
~ Fossil of a Meganeuridae

The Largest Insect Ever Existed Was a Giant 'Dragonfly'

Fossil of a Meganeuridae

The largest known insect of all time was a predator
resembling a dragonfly but was only distantly related to them.

Its name is Meganeuropsis,
and it ruled the skies before pterosaurs,
birds and bats had even evolved.

Most popular textbooks make mention of “giant dragonflies”
that lived during the days before the dinosaurs.

This is only partly true, for real dragonflies
had still not evolved back then.

Rather than being true dragonflies,
they were the more primitive ‘griffinflies’ or Meganisopterans.

Their fossil record is quite short.

They lasted from the Late Carboniferous to the Late Permian,
roughly 317 to 247 million years ago.

The fossils of Meganeura were first discovered in France
in the year 1880.

Then, in 1885, the fossil was described and assigned
its name by Charles Brongniart who was a French Paleontologist.

Later in 1979, another fine fossil specimen
was discovered at Bolsover in Derbyshire.

Meganisoptera is an extinct family of insects,
all large and predatory and superficially like today’s odonatans,
the dragonflies and damselflies.

And the very largest of these was Meganeuropsis.

It is known from two species, with the type species being the immense M.permiana. Meganeuropsis permiana,
as its name suggests is from the Early Permian.

There has been some controversy
as to how insects of the Carboniferous period
were able to grow so large.

• Oxygen levels and atmospheric density.

The way oxygen is diffused through the insect's body
via its tracheal breathing system puts an upper limit on body size,
which prehistoric insects seem to have well exceeded.

It was originally proposed hat Meganeura was able to fly
only because the atmosphere at that time contained more oxygen
than the present 20%.

• Lack of predators.

Other explanations for the large size of meganeurids
compared to living relatives are warranted.

Bechly suggested that the lack of aerial vertebrate predators
allowed pterygote insects to evolve to maximum sizes
during the Carboniferous and Permian periods,
perhaps accelerated by an evolutionary "arms race"
for increase in body size between plant-feeding Palaeodictyoptera
and Meganisoptera as their predators.

• Aquatic larvae stadium.

Another theory suggests that insects that developed in water
before becoming terrestrial as adults grew bigger as a way
to protect themselves against the high levels of oxygen.
Interesting Facts

• Though always associated with the modern-day dragonflies
  due to their appearance, considering the various structural
  and other characteristic differences between them,
  these insects were often classified as griffinflies.
  
  
• It was one of the largest known insects that ever lived,
  with a reconstructed wing length of 330 millimetres (13 in),
  an estimated wingspan of up to 710 millimetres (28 in),
  and a body length from head to tail of almost 430 millimetres
  (17 in)."
  
  
• The term 'Meganeura' means large-veined,
  and these insects had similar vein patterns in their wings.
  
  However, the vein patterns found in the wings of dragonflies usually vary.
  
  
• It is believed that their hunting and preying methods
  were quite similar to those of modern-day dragonflies.
  
  However, it may have attacked many more organisms
  owing to its larger size.
  
  
• Their large eyes made it possible for them to watch out
  for prey while the spine on their legs enabled them
  to get hold of it.

​

• Their wings had a network of veins.
  
  Moreover, they were heavily veined and had cross braces
  for strength unlike those of the present-day dragonflies
  that have delicate wings.
  
  
• The male insects would mate by taking hold of the female
  with the help of appendages in the front.
  
  
• They believe that it was impossible for the massive bodies
  of these insects to survive in the present-day atmospheric
  conditions and that this may have led to their extinction.
  
  (The oxygen content in today's atmosphere is up to 21%
  and back in the Carboniferous period, it was up to 35%.)
  
  
• The breathing mechanism of these insects allowed the passage
  of air through a system of tracheal tubes,
  transporting the oxygen directly to the internal tissues.
  
  
• Also, giant dragonflies were actually seen as gigantic creatures
  when compared to their living relatives,
  mainly due to the size of their wingspan
  rather than their bodies which were smaller
  than living species of some other groups.

Read more at https://www.geologyin.com/2018/01/the-largest-insect-ever-existed-was.html#FVj7DHCxvuqHuGIJ.99

Read more at https://www.geologyin.com/2018/01/the-largest-insect-ever-existed-was.html#FVj7DHCxvuqHuGIJ.99
Read more at https://www.geologyin.com/2018/01/the-largest-insect-ever-existed-was.html#FVj7DHCxvuqHuGIJ.99

 

a dragon fly landed on me - susan lynne schwenger

 

Dragonflies are ancient insects. They have existed on Planet Earth for approximately 300 million years. Today, they look very much like they did in "dinosaur times," though they have gradually gotten smaller since then. Dragonflies can be useful in controlling mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are one of their primary food sources! As far as insects go, dragonflies are among the fastest. Some of the faster species can fly upward of 30 miles per hour. Their four wings also allow them to move sideways, backward, to hover in place, etc. And they can do all of these movements quickly and accurately, which makes them well suited to eat other insects right out of the air.
Dragonflies are not born with wings. They are born in a larvae state and eventually go through a partial metamorphosis process, during which they grow their wings. They spend most of their lives in the larva stage (up to three years, depending on the species). The adult, winged stage only lasts a few weeks. Mating is the primary reason for their winged stage. So when you see a winged dragonfly, you know it's toward the end of its lifespan. Sad but true.
Most dragonflies can be found around lakes or rivers. They breathe water through gills in their abdomen, and can squirt this water out fast to give themselves a quick jet-propelled movement. Dragonflies hatch from eggs in freshwater, and spent at least a few months (sometimes several years) as aquatic predators. As they grow they molt (shed their whole skin at once) many times. Once they are big enough, they crawl out of the water and the adult stage emerges from the skin of the nymph. Once they have transformed into the winged adult stage, the stop growing. Most dragonfly species spend the winter as nymphs in the water, but some migrate south, and spend the winter as adults. In few species that lay their eggs in the late summer or fall, the eggs don't hatch until spring. Dragonflies emerge from the water in the warm months of spring or summer.During its two year incubation cycle in the water the dragonfly sheds up to fifteen skins. The dragonfly also holds the qualities of the water, contributing to its grace. Water holds deep seated thoughts, emotions, and the yin quality of introspect.
Since the dragonfly life cycle encompasses both the waters and the sky this creature is tied to our own transformational abilities. The key is to remember that any transformation, to be complete, takes time.
The wings of the dragon fly are transparent, abounding with many luminous colors. The eyes are multi- faceted, able to see from many angles. This reminds us that we can see anything in life from many angles. We should always look past the illusions. The dragonfly can be utilized as a symbol for understanding an aspect of our evolutionary process in life. Taken as a whole our life is very transformational, seen or unseen. We can learn patience and faith that the steps we take will lead us in the right direction.
You can use the qualities of the dragonfly totem in your daily meditation. With the dragonfly we have that transformational quality, and we can transform thoughts and perceptions into understanding and growth. We can look beyond the illusions and stories for the greater world of clarity and connectivity with self. Stories of totem animals is an simple way to learn more about our own deep seated abilities. Learning about our own totems is a step into self discovery, and can bring clarity to our own vision and understanding. Learn more about totem spirits, and the collective qualities that empower and embrace our creativity in life.

Tina Beal

 

golden dragonfly