viviparity; ovoviviparity; reproduction; Chaetospania; Spongiphoridae; Dermaptera

Hitherto studied species of non-parasiting earwigs are oviparous and in only one species (Marava arachidis) was found ovoviviparity. Earwigs lay the eggs and then exhibit a maternal brood care. During the study of Dermaptera material collected in Papua New Guinea a female of Chaetospania borneensis (Dubrony, 1879) (Spongiphoridae: Sparattinae) has been found with developing embryos in its abdomen which documents its viviparity. The abdomen contained six embryos in different stages of development when the most distal embryo was the fully developed nymph without any membraneous chorion. Specialised organs, as vesicula cephalica and pseudoplacenta known in Arixeniidae and Hemimeridae, were not observed.