Autoecious

Definition

A life cycle in which parasites, especially aphids, live on the same host (or closely related hosts) throughout all their developmental stages.

Etymology

From Greek 'auto-', meaning 'self', and 'oikos', meaning 'house'.

Example

Many aphid species exhibit an autoecious life cycle, remaining on a single host plant throughout their development.

Related Terms

• Aphids
• Host Plant
• Heteroecious

Usage Notes

Autoecious life cycles are contrasted with heteroecious life cycles, where aphids may switch between multiple host plants during their development.