egg hatches in environment-. molts -> L1 ->percutaneous /L3-> swallowed, if percutaneous, undergoes tracheal migration and then molts to L5 in small intestine. If swallowed, undergoes pulmonary migration or goes straight to small intestine, molts to L5. -> L5 to adult, eggs shed in faeces. If does not mature, L3 enters hypobiosis in skeletal muscle and is reactivated on pregnancy and transmitted transmammarily