THE EVOLUTION OF INSECT FLIGHT - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION OF THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM

The Insecta encompasses a prodigiously diverse group as measured at th e species, family and ordinal levels, but the nervous system bears evi dence of conservatism, The early acquisition of flight must have been a major factor in the diversification of body form, Arguments are pres ented that predator evasion was a primary factor in the original of fl ight and that a conserved set of giant interneurons played a key eleme nt in the transition.