Evolution
Evolutionary Timeline
When each insect order first appeared in the fossil record
🦗
400 MYA
Devonian
Springtails
Order: Collembola
🪳
390 MYA
Devonian
Bristletails
Order: Archaeognatha
🪰
350 MYA
Carboniferous
Mayflies
Order: Ephemeroptera
🪰
325 MYA
Carboniferous
Dragonflies & Damselflies
Order: Odonata
🪳
320 MYA
Carboniferous
Cockroaches & Termites
Order: Blattodea
🦗
300 MYA
Carboniferous
Grasshoppers & Crickets
Order: Orthoptera
🐛
280 MYA
Permian
True Bugs
Order: Hemiptera
🪲
265 MYA
Permian
Beetles
Order: Coleoptera
🦟
250 MYA
Triassic
Lacewings
Order: Neuroptera
🪰
240 MYA
Triassic
Flies
Order: Diptera
🐝
230 MYA
Triassic
Ants, Bees & Wasps
Order: Hymenoptera
🦋
200 MYA
Jurassic
Butterflies & Moths
Order: Lepidoptera
🦟
165 MYA
Jurassic
Fleas
Order: Siphonaptera
🦗
135 MYA
Cretaceous
Mantises
Order: Mantodea
🐜
130 MYA
Cretaceous
Termites (modern)
Order: Isoptera
🪵
126 MYA
Cretaceous
Stick Insects
Order: Phasmatodea
🌍
Present Day
Today
Over 1 million known insect species on Earth