Adult whipworms are found in the large intestine, usually the ileocecal area. They mate and the eggs leave the body in the feces. They must embryonate before they are infective, which takes about three weeks. Upon ingestion, the L1 larvae hatch and penetrate the small intestine to mature. They eventually migrate to the large intestine and complete maturation in three months.
Adults can live for years and deposit thousands of eggs per day.
This is a direct life cycle. Pathology also results from the mature worms migrating to other areas of the body in search of a mate.