Question

What orders of insects are primarily wingless? Of these, which orders are primitively wingless (never evolved wings) and which have evolved winglessness from winged ancestors? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being wingless?

*please include link to any thing cited in your answer so I may reference any resources for more information

Answer 1

Apterygota are a subclass of small, agile insects, distinguished from other insects by their lack of wings in the present and in their evolutionary history. Fleas Siphonaptera are wingless (apterous) but this is a secondary adaptation to their habitat. Wings got developed only in those insects which needed them. It is a very energy consuming process for a insect to develop wings. There must have been a ancesstor which was wingless and other winged insects got diverged from it to develop wings according to their environment and need.

Advantages of wingless insects: This is more or less a adaptation. It is brought about by the environment in which the insect lives. Flying requires more energy than terrestrial locomotion. Not having wings also might help in camoflage to protect from predators as wings are normally not the same as body colour.

Disadvantages: Obvious disadvantage is not being able to run away from predators fast. Flying also gives a better picture of the surrounding and helps in finding food, mate etc.