Males usually mate with several females, but in crowded conditions, they stay with one female and guard her from competing males. The female can lay all her eggs after a single copulation, but normally she mates several times. Prior to oviposition, she needs to feed on protein-rich material. The eggs are laid on food substrate in batches of six to eight. The oviposition continues for about two months, and the total number of eggs may reach 200.
Adults live approximately one year.
The number of larval molts varies from five to seven. Female larvae have one molt more than male larvae. When ready to pupate, larvae wander away from the food source and bore into any hard substrate they can find. Pupation occurs within the burrow. The cast larval skin and debris from burrowing serve to plug the opening.