Search
tag

insect-evolution

1 article
Mayflies and dragonflies share one ancient winged ancestor, DNA confirms

PubMed · 2026-10-12

Scientists analyzed DNA from 101 insect species to settle a long-running debate about how the first winged insects evolved, confirming that mayflies and dragonflies share a common ancestor and that wings evolved just once, around 380 million years ago.

1

Analysis used 1,367 shared genes across genomes and transcriptomes from 101 insect species, including 16 newly sequenced mayfly genomes

2

Genomic signal supports a monophyletic Palaeoptera (mayflies + dragonflies sharing one common ancestor) over the competing Chiastomyaria hypothesis

3

Molecular dating places the origin of winged insects in the Early Devonian, with the mayfly-dragonfly lineage emerging in the Late Devonian

mail Weekly plant science — one email, Saturdays.

Related Topics