Gonads develop from paired dorsolateral compact strands. Additionally, basiepidermal nerves are present. The ventral nerve cord shifts from an intraepidermal to a submuscular position during development. The longitudinal musculature grows continuously and changes from fewer platymyarian cells to abundant coelomyarian cells. This is probably connected to the uptake of nutrients through the larval cuticle, whereas the adult cuticle has only protective function. Epidermis and intestine appear physiologically active during the early stages, but decrease in size and cytological components during further development. A thin larval cuticle is replaced at about day 20 by a robust adult cuticle. During this time span, specimens grow from about 1 cm to more than 10 cm and from 93 μm to about 400 μm in diameter.
The development of Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha), in the parasitic phase of the life cycle, was followed ultrastructurally from 10 days after controlled infection of crickets ( Gryllus firmus) to mature animals at 30 days after infection.
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