Contribution to the study of the post-embryonic development and reproduction of the African millipede Epibolus pulchripes (Gerstacker, 1873) (Diplopoda, Pachybolidae)

A collection of 215 specimens of different stadia of the African millipede Epibolus pulchripes allowed studying its post-embryonic development, with special attention drawn to (i) the number of segments and ocelli at each stadium and (ii) the development of the copulatory organs of males and females. Laboratory rearing of adult E. pulchripes from Kenya revealed some aspects of reproduction, from the structure of the adult reproductive organs to mating behaviour and oviposition, as well as the first stadia of post-embryonic development. Based on histological observations and scanning electron microscopy, the position of the copulatory organs during mating and the function of the different parts of the reproductive organs are hypothesized.