Abstract—A matrix of 41 Embiid taxa (representing the 8 formally recognized families of the Order) and 36 characters were cladistically analysed as a first attempt for understanding the higher classification of the Order Embioptera. The resulting trees were rooted with Clothodidae as the sister group of the other Embioptera. The results suggest that the current classification contains several artificial groups. With the rooting used, only Anisembiidae and Australembiidae are monophyletic. Embiidae is polyphyletic, as Australembiidae+ Notoligotomidae,Enveja(incertae sedis) and Oligotomidae+Teratembiidae appear within Embiidae, and the “embiid”Microembiaappears within Notoligotomidae. Oligotomidae is paraphyletic in terms of Teratembiidae. Four of the genera included in the analysis are paraphyletic:Mesembia, Chelicerca(in terms ofDactylocercaandPelorembia),Aposthonia(in terms ofOligotoma), andMetoligotoma(in terms ofAustralembia).PelorembiaandDactylocercaare synonymized withCheli