Scientists Discover a New Order of Insects

For the first time in nearly a century, scientists have discovered a new order of insects. Just three of the paperclip-sized insects are known, Danish and German researchers reported in the April 19 edition of Science. The insects have been placed in the new category mantophasmatodea.

They are a little less than an inch long, and two of the examples under study in laboratories came from tropical Africa. The two had been in museums. An additional example was found encased in amber from Europe’s Baltic region.

The age of the African examples, now held for study in museums, is not known.

The new insects look a bit like crickets, but lack the jumping hind legs that mark that order. The scientists said that, based on their stomach contents, the insects appear to be carnivores.