Insects Protura (Xolotl)

The subclass Apterygota is characterized by its small body and primitive winglessness. There are gastropod remains in the abdomen. Metamorphosis or metamorphosis.

​Protura (Xolotl)

This order is commonly known as salamanders. The structure of the character "Xolotl" is very wonderful. It is both a phonetic character and an ideographic character, indicating that this is the most primitive insect. Tiny wingless insects, 0.5-2 mm long, slender, white or colorless. There are no antennae, compound eyes and single eyes. There is only one pair of false single eyes, which are vestiges of degenerated antennae. The mouthparts are hidden inside the head and are suitable for piercing and sucking. The front legs are particularly long and are often held high in front of the head, replacing the function of the antennae. The abdomen has 12 segments, no tail whiskers, and the remains of gastropods on segments 1-3.

It is widely distributed. As of 1995, 69 genera and 649 species were known in the world, and my country has 164 species in 34 genera and 9 families. Protozoa live in moist grassy soil, under tree bark and masonry. The abdomen of a newly hatched nymph has only 8 segments, and as the worm ages, it gradually adds another three segments and an obvious telson. This phenomenon is called metamorphosis and is not found in other insects.

Some scholars have promoted this order to Protocerda and placed it in Hexapoda, that is, the original Insect class has been promoted to the general class. Protocera and Collembola have both been promoted to class. Sometimes Dipsoda has also been promoted to class, and the rest It’s called Insecta in the narrow sense.

The characteristics of this order can be summarized as follows: Protocerdae have legs but no antennae; the abdomen has twelve segments, and the first three have gastropods.

animal tags： Protocerdae Protocerca Insect Apteryx Newt