Regulation of Segment-Building during the Postembryonic Development of a Common Milliped

Starvation of larvae of the milliped Narceus annularis results in the formation of a smaller than normal number of body segments in the early stadia. However, this reduced number is compensated for by subsequent formation of a larger than normal number of body segments in the later stadia, or by the addition of extra segment-building stadia. Apparently there is a mechanism whereby the milliped "keeps count" of the number of body segments produced and can regulate the production of these segments from a proliferative region so that the total number of body segments at sexual maturity is within the normal range for the species.