The adult dipetalonema reconditum is found in the connective tissue of the skin like the SQ fascia especially in the limbs and back. The flea ingests a microfilaria when feeding on an infected dog. The microfilaria develops into an infective larva in 7 to 14 days.
When the flea again feeds on a dog the infective larva is injected into the skin. The larva develops to the adult stage in the connective tissue of the dog's skin. The female worm lays microfilariae which find their way into the blood. The prepatent period is about 61 to 65 days.