Parasitoid

Definition

An organism, typically an insect, that lives in or on another host organism (usually an insect) during its development, ultimately killing the host as it matures.

Etymology

From Greek 'para-', meaning 'beside', and Latin 'sitos', meaning 'food', and suffix '-oid', meaning 'resembling or having the nature of'.

Example

The parasitoid wasp lays its eggs inside the caterpillar, and the larvae consume the host from the inside out as they develop.

Synonyms

• Parasite-like organism

Related Terms

• Host
• Parasitism
• Lifecycle
• Wasp
• Fly

Usage Notes

Parasitoids are distinct from true parasites in that they inevitably kill their host, whereas true parasites typically do not.