The monophyly of holometabolous insects has long been accepted, with the main orders being established as Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera, and it is the relationships between these groups which has caused difficulties.
A monofilia dos insectos holometábolos acéptase desde hai moito tempo, e as principais ordes establecidas son: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera e Diptera, pero a relación entre estes grupos é o que causou problemas.