Scientists at Imperial College London have made a comprehensive 3D model of a fossilized specimen called Archimylacris eggintoni, which is an ancient ancestor of modern cockroaches, mantises and termites. This insect scuttled around on Earth during the Carboniferous period 359 - 299 million years ago, which was a time when life had recently emerged from the oceans to live on land. The study reveals for the first time how Archimylacris eggintoni’s physical traits helped it to thrive on the floor of Earth's early forests. The fossils of these creatures are normally between 2cm and 9cm in length and approximately 4cm in width. Model courtesy of Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum.