Postembryonic development of Strigamia maritima (Leach, 1817) (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha, Linotaeniidae) with emphasis on how to separate the different stadia

Abstract

Our argumentation for the epimorphic status of Strigamia maritima (Leach, 1817) has led to questions on how we separated the stadia. Several measurements and counts, including character plots, were made in an effort to find the easiest and most accurate way of separating the postembryonic stadia. The measurements and counts are presented in tables and diagrams. Especially the presentation of the width of the forcipular coxosternite on probability paper indicated 6 stadia. The last stadium, Postmaturus, only comprised 0.5 to 0.8 % of the 1430 specimens investigated (Adolescens I and older). The most reliable single character seems to be the number of setae on the coxae of the last pair of legs. Another increase of setae through the stadia, here presented on the 10th sternite, shows an evolving pattern that could be of great help in allocating the specimens to the stadia.