Argulus japonicus, also known as the Japanese fish louse, is a species of crustacean in the family Argulidae.

[5] Argulus japonicus reproduces sexually, with females laying anywhere from 1-9 strings of 5–226 eggs after mating occurs on the host.

After eggs hatch in about 2 weeks (or longer at lower temperatures), larvae are only able to survive for 1–2 days before requiring nutrition from a host fish.

After attachment to a host, larvae will pass through several stages before maturing into adult form.

[4] The insecticide Dipterex is able to kill both adult and larval stages of Argulus japonicus; however, eggs are unaffected by this treatment, meaning an initial application of the compound must be repeated after 2 weeks (after which any eggs laid will have hatched) in order to achieve an effective reduction of the parasite.