The life cycle of a tapeworm typically involves eggs or larvae being ingested by an intermediate host, such as a flea or a rodent. The larvae then develop into a cysticercoid stage before being ingested by the definitive host, usually a human or animal. Once inside the definitive host, the tapeworm matures into an adult and releases eggs through its segments, which are then passed out through the host's feces to start the cycle anew.