Kleptoparasite
- Pronunciation
- /klep-toh-PAIR-uh-syt/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Kleptoparasite
- Plural
- Kleptoparasites
Definition
An organism that steals food or other resources collected by another organism.
Etymology
From Greek 'klepto-' meaning 'to steal' and 'parasitos' meaning 'one who lives at another's expense'.
Example
Certain spiders are kleptoparasites, stealing prey captured in the webs of other spiders.
Synonyms
- Resource thief
- Food thief
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Kleptoparasitism is common in both insects and arachnids, and can impact the survival and reproductive success of the host organism.