Natural Host

Pronunciation
/nat-ur-al host/
Category
Ecology
Singular
Natural Host
Plural
Natural Hosts

Definition

The organism that an insect or other arthropod naturally feeds on, lives in, or otherwise interacts with in a symbiotic or parasitic relationship.

Etymology

From the Latin 'natura' meaning 'nature'.

Example

The natural host of the emerald ash borer is the American ash tree.

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