Pterygota (/ˌtɛrəˈɡoʊtə/ terrə-GOH-tə[2] Ancient Greek: πτερυγωτός, romanized: pterugōtós, lit.

Unlike Archaeognatha and Zygentoma, the pterygotes do not have styli or vesicles on their abdomen (also absent in some zygentomans), and with the exception of the majority of mayflies, are also missing the median terminal filament which is present in the ancestrally wingless insects.

Claims that they originated substantially earlier during the Silurian or Devonian based on molecular clock estimates are unlikely based on the fossil record, and are likely analytical artefacts.

[10] The former are nowadays strongly suspected of being paraphyletic, and better treatments (such as dividing or dissolving the group) are presently being discussed[citation needed].

The following scheme uses finer divisions than the one above, which is not well-suited to correctly accommodating the fossil groups.