We know there were dog-sized dragonfly ancestors in the Permian, but one of the interesting puzzles in paleobiology is WHY?
Or, more importantly, what's keeping modern mosquitoes and cockroaches from growing to similar sizes (and how can we ensure it stays that way)?
Or, more importantly, what's keeping modern mosquitoes and cockroaches from growing to similar sizes (and how can we ensure it stays that way)?
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Ssshhhhh!
Are you Mad. Tech boys trying to re-genetic up a mastodon.
Do we need mosquitos that can take a pint?
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268818069_Carboniferous_protodonatoid_dragonfly_nymphs_and_the_synapo-_morphies_of_Odonatoptera_and_Ephemeroptera_Insecta_Palaeoptera_JARMILA_KUKALOVA-PECK
The problem is that we don't know interior anatomy of Meganisoptera from extant fossils, so we don't know how they moved oxygen around.
So not just "high atmo oxygen = giant insects", but it may contribute to their emergence?
But what selection factor in evolution would favor gigantism?
Art by Kiabugboy
It's the only way to prevent the re-emergence of bugs the size of Weimeraners, and I think we can all agree that's the more important goal.
They should come back
Doesn't explain myriapod gigantism though.
Oxygen is very slowly decreasing. On the time scale of the graph above, 1 tick = 1 million years, you just can't see it.
Big moves over geologic time are often volcanism, catastrophic changes in climate or major collisions with objects from space.