Earth Archives reports the largest insect in evolutionary history was a dragonfly-type creature, not a true dragonfly.
Key Takeaways
The title’s scare quotes around “dragonfly” signal the species is likely a griffinfly or related prehistoric order, not a modern Odonata member.
Earth Archives covers natural history and paleontology topics including extinct megafauna, ancient marine reptiles, and deep-time biodiversity.
Prehistoric gigantism in insects is linked to higher atmospheric oxygen levels in the Carboniferous and Permian periods.
The distinction between a true dragonfly and a griffinfly matters taxonomically: griffinflies (Meganisoptera) are a separate, extinct order despite the visual similarity.
