Ectoparasitoid
- Pronunciation
- /ek-toh-PAIR-uh-suh-toid/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Ectoparasitoid
- Plural
- Ectoparasitoids
Definition
A type of parasitoid that lives on the outside of its host and eventually kills it.
Etymology
From Greek 'ecto-', meaning 'outside', and 'parasitos', meaning 'one who lives at another's expense'.
Example
The larvae of many ectoparasitoid wasps feed on the external surface of caterpillars.
Synonyms
- External parasitoid
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Ectoparasitoids typically lay their eggs on or near the surface of the host, unlike endoparasitoids which develop inside the host.