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ANCIENT GIANTS
Compound eyes (eyes made up
of many parts) provided multiple
images, helping the insect detect
movement and judge distances
with amazing accuracy.
Prehistoric invertebrates (animals
without a backbone), such as this
millipede, grew to giant sizes
because there was more oxygen
in the atmosphere at the time.
This enabled the bugs’ body tissues
to grow large. The bugs began to
shrink when oxygen levels fell. Biting jaws tore into ancient
prey, including small reptiles
and amphibians.
What was
the biggest
insect ever?
The prehistoric griffenfly
Meganeuropsis permiana was
about 17 in (43 cm) long.
This insect was the ancestor
of today’s dragonflies and damselflies.
US_250-251_309600_Biggest_Insect.indd 250 19/12/17 3:48 pm
