Hyperparasitoid
- Pronunciation
- /Hi-per-par-a-si-toyd/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Hyperparasitoid
- Plural
- Hyperparasitoids
Definition
An insect that parasitizes other parasitoids. They lay their eggs on or in another parasitoid, and their larvae feed on the primary parasitoid.
Etymology
From Greek 'hyper-', meaning 'above' or 'beyond', and 'parasitoid'.
Example
The hyperparasitoid wasp *Dendrocerus carpenteri* attacks aphids that are already parasitized by other parasitic wasps.
Synonyms
- Secondary Parasitoid