What is the Palaeoptera?
Q: What is the Palaeoptera?
A: The Palaeoptera is a group of primitive (basal) winged insects which do not fold the wings back over the abdomen like Neoptera.
Q: What are the two living species of Palaeoptera?
A: The two living species of Palaeoptera are the Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies).
Q: Are the Palaeoptera monophyletic?
A: It is unclear whether the Palaeoptera are monophyletic, but the Neoptera definitely are monophyletic.
Q: Are the Palaeoptera a natural group?
A: The absence of wing-folding does not necessarily mean the Palaeoptera form a natural group, and they may just be a group of insects that are "not Neoptera", essentially forming a wastebasket taxon.
Q: What is the relationship of the Palaeoptera to the Neoptera?
A: The relationship of the two living Palaeopteran groups to the Neoptera is unclear.
Q: How many main Palaeopteran lineages are recognized?
A: Three main palaeopteran lineages, traditionally treated as superorders, are recognized.
Q: Is the Palaeodictyopteroidea a paraphyletic assemblage?
A: The Palaeodictyopteroidea might also be a paraphyletic assemblage of very basal Pterygota.
