Sexes are separate throughout the life cycle in most species of nematodes.
Sexual reproduction occurs within an infected host. Eggs are laid by the female, and pass from the host into the outside environment. The L3 is the stage that is infective for a subsequent host . Molting is the process of shedding the cuticle of one larval stage in order to move on to the next stage. When the larva has grown to fill the rigid cuticle, it must shed it in order to continue to grow.