Overview
Amphiesmenoptera is an insect superorder, established by Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Trichoptera (caddisflies).
Trichoptera and Lepidoptera share a number of derived characters (synapomorphies) which prove their common descent:
- Females, rather than males, are heterogametic (i.e. their sex chromosomes differ).
- Dense setae are present the wings (modified into scales in Lepidoptera).
- There is a particular venation pattern on the forewings (the double-looped anal veins).
- Larvae have mouth structures and glands to make and manipulate silk.1]
Thus the two sister orders are grouped into the Amphiesmenoptera. The group probably evolved in the Jurassic, diverging from the extinct .[1] Lepidoptera differ from the Trichoptera in several features, including wing venation, form of the scales on the wings, loss of the cerci, loss of an ocellus, and changes to the legs.[1]
Amphiesmenoptera are thought to be the sister group of Antliophora, a proposed superorder comprising Diptera (flies), Siphonaptera (fleas) and Mecoptera (scorpionflies). Together, Amphiesmenoptera and Antliophora compose the group Mecopterida.[2]
ures, including wing venation, form of the scales on the wings, loss of the cerci, loss of an ocellus, and changes to the legs.[1]Amphiesmenoptera are thought to be the sister group of Antliophora, a proposed superorder comprising Diptera (flies), Siphonaptera (fleas) and Mecoptera (scorpionflies). Together, Amphiesmenoptera and Antliophora compose the group Mecopterida.[2]
References
- ^ a b c D. Grimaldi & M. S. Engel (2005). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82149-5.
- ^ M. F. Whiting, J. C. Carpenter, Q. D. Wheeler & W. C. Wheeler (March 1997). "The Strepsiptera problem: phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology". Systematic Biolo gy 46 (1): 1?68. PMID 11975347. http://sysbio.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/46/1/1.
Taxonomy
The Superorder Amphiesmenoptera is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Order (2): Lepidoptera · Pleuronematida
Orders
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( le-pi-dop-t?-r?) is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies (called lepidopterans). It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies. The term was coined by Linnaeus in 1735 and is derived from Ancient Greek ?ep?d?? (scale) and pte??? (wing). Comprising an estimated 174,250 species, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, the Lepidoptera show many variations of the basic body structure that have evolved to gain advantages in lifestyle and distribution. Recent estimates suggest that the order may have more species than earlier thought, and is among the four most speciose orders, along with the Hymenoptera, Diptera, and the Coleoptera. [more]
Pleuronematida
At least 45 species and subspecies belong to the Order Pleuronematida.
More info about the Order Pleuronematida may be found here.
References
- ^ a b c D. Grimaldi & M. S. Engel (2005). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82149-5.
- ^ M. F. Whiting, J. C. Carpenter, Q. D. Wheeler & W. C. Wheeler (March 1997). "The Strepsiptera problem: phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology". Systematic Biology 46 (1): 1?68. PMID 11975347. http://sysbio.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/repr int/46/1/1.
Sources
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