The Biggest Insect Ever Existed Was A Giant 'Dragonfly'

Insects are the creatures with the most species on Earth, with more than 1,000,000 species. They are found almost everywhere in the world and can sometimes be seen in crowded areas. So, do you know which is the largest insect that ever lived? Its name is Meganeuropsis, and it ruled the skies before pterosaurs, birds and bats had even evolved.

Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Carboniferous period (approximately 300 million years ago), which resembled and are related to the present-day dragonflies. Its wingspans from 65 cm (25.6 in) to more than 70 cm (28 in), M.Monyi is one of the largest known species of flying insects. Meganeura was predatory and their diet consisted mainly of other insects. Fossils were discovered in the French Stephanian Coal Measures of Commentry in 1880. In 1885, French paleontologist Charles Brongniart described and named the fossil "Meganeura" (large-nerved), which refers to the network of veins on the insect's wings. Another fine fossil specimen was found in 1979 at Bolsover in Derbyshire. The holotype is housed in the National Museum of Natural History, in Paris.