Scientists reveal secrets of insect evolution
FollowUsing genetic analysis, scientists have for the first time been able to conclusively establish that insects originated approximately 480 million years ago, and that they developed the ability to fly approximately 80 million years later.
Published last week in Science, the study, which involved more than 100 researchers from 16 countries including five from Australia’s CSIRO, answers long-held questions about the evolution of the world’s largest and most diverse group of living things – insects.
“Our research shows that insects originated at the same time as the earliest land-based plants, about 480 million years ago. These first insects were probably similar to today’s silverfish,