Centipedes and hexapods have a posterior subterminal gonopore. In some mites, the female genital opening sometimes migrates posteriorly on the venter, or rarely to the dorsum.
Diplopods, pauropods, and symphylans have gonopores on the 3rd–4th segment of the trunk.
In many arachnids, including mites, the female genital opening—usually also the ovipore—is located on segment VIII. Although it appears just behind the last pair of legs, this is because segment VII is often reduced, obscured, or forms part of the narrow waist (pedicel), making it less noticeable.
Terrestrial crustaceans have gonopores either on the last segment of the thorax or the 1st abdominal segment.
In many mites, the female genital opening migrates between the coxae. Also, many groups of mites evolved secondary insemination systems that are dissociated from the ovipore.
Author: David E. Walter
Content last updated Sept. 2006, unless indicated otherwise
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