Odonatoptera

Odonatoptera is a proposed superorder of insects that encompasses the Odonata, which includes dragonflies and damselflies, and the extinct Palaeodictyoptera. This classification is based on shared anatomical characteristics, particularly in their wing venation and larval stages, although the precise phylogenetic relationships are still debated among entomologists. The Palaeodictyoptera, which lived from the Carboniferous to the Permian periods, were a diverse group of ancient insects, many of which possessed large, membranous wings. Dragonflies and damselflies, the extant members of Odonatoptera, are characterized by their elongated bodies, two pairs of strong, membranous wings that cannot be folded back against their bodies, and large compound eyes. Their aquatic larval stage, known as a nymph or naiad, is predatory. The inclusion of Palaeodictyoptera in this group suggests a shared evolutionary history, indicating that the ancestors of modern dragonflies and damselflies were part of a much larger and more ancient insect lineage. Research continues to refine our understanding of the evolutionary divergence and relationships within this proposed superorder.