General Life Cycle of Some
Approximate Duration of
Medically Important Arthropods
Life Cycles at 27C (80F)
Where Found
Flies
egg
10 hours
Animal or human waste,
(Example: housefly)
larvae
5 days
garbage, grass,
pupa
5 days
decomposing animals
adult
30 days
and mud contaminated
with organic material.
Mosquitoes
egg
4 days
Standing water which
(Example: yellow fever
larvae
10 days
may be found in ponds,
mosquito)
pupa
2 days
tin cans, old tires,
adult
14 days
and tree holes.
Fleas
egg
7 days
Warm-blooded animals
(Example: oriental rat
larvae
15 days
and nests or beds of
flea)
pupa
8 days
animals.
adult
365 days
Lice...
egg
7 days
Head hair and clothing
(Example: human body
nymph
16 days
of humans.
louse)
adult
30 days
Cockroaches
egg
3-24 hours
Cracks and crevices that
(Example: German
nymph
30 days
provide warmth,
cockroach)
adult
2,000 days
moisture, and food such
as around water,
garbage, and food
facilities.
Ticks and mites
Life cycle (egg, larva,
Tall grass, underbrush,
nymph, adult) completed
animal watering places,
6 weeks to 2 years
and shady rest areas of
animals.
Table 1-1. Life cycle of arthropods.
b. Medical Authorities. Medical authorities will provide technical guidance for
control of arthropods and other animals affecting the health and morale of Army
personnel and occupied area inhabitants. This includes, but is not limited to: assisting
unit and command supply personnel and engineers to establish requirements and
control levels for pesticides and pesticide dispersal equipment; determining pest control
material and operations effectiveness; conducting ecological and biological studies of
arthropods and animals servings as vectors and reservoirs of disease; monitoring
pesticide levels in the environment; and assisting in the development, standardization,
MD0171
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