Definition of Pterygota in English:
Pterygota
plural noun ˈtɛrɪɡəʊtəˌterəˈɡōdə
Entomology A large group of insects that comprises those that have wings or winged ancestors, including the majority of modern species.
Subclass Pterygota, class Insecta (or Hexapoda): many orders
Compare with Apterygota
Example sentencesExamples
- In most insects (the Pterygota) the thorax posses one or two pairs of wings for flying.
- It is possible that Pterygota occurred as early as the Upper Devonian, but, again, there is no evidence for this.
Derivatives
noun
Entomology Winged insects, or pterygotes, have radiated into over 100 times more species than all of the winged vertebrate lineages combined. They include all of the commonly encountered insects; the most common non-pterygote insect lineage are the Thysanura (silverfish and firebrats).
Example sentencesExamples
- While earliest insects were terrestrial, earliest pterygotes had aquatic immatures.
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Greek pterugōtos 'winged', from pteron, pterug- 'wing'.