International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Deepak Rawal

Abstract
Modern hexapod diversity represents summation of over 400 million years of high speciation rates and low levels of natural extinction. It seems that nature loves six legs. Out of the million documented species of hexapods, approx 83% are holometabola and largest group (38%) is of Coleoptera (beetles). The gap in the hexapod fossil record is called Hexapod gap. Their origin and evolution is highly debated because there are not enough fossils that directly connect them to the arthropods. Only few fossils found are not enough to precisely solve the mystery of hexapod evolution. There is no doubt that ability of flight gives them power to explore new niches and enhance their biodiversity. Origin and evolution of hexapods is somewhat more complex than it seems. Phylogenetics is not much useful because it requires a previous database to compare things and we does not have database of extinct hexapods. If we want to solve the enigma of hexapod evolution we must find another way which correlate hexapod adaptations with their contemporary environments.