Host Specificity
- Pronunciation
- /HOST spe-siff-i-CITY/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Host Specificity
- Plural
- Host Specificities
Definition
The degree to which an animal is restricted to preying on or parasitizing specific host types. Levels of host specificity include monophagous (single host), oligophagous (few hosts), and polyphagous (many hosts).
Etymology
From Latin 'hospes', meaning 'guest' and 'specificus', referring to the specific nature of the host selection.
Example
The high host specificity of the parasitic wasp _Trichogramma pretiosum_ allows it to effectively target a single species of pest insect.