Social Parasites
- Pronunciation
- /SO-shal PAR-uh-sites/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Social Parasite
- Plural
- Social Parasites
Definition
Insects that infiltrate and exploit the social structure of another species, often taking advantage of the host's colony for reproduction and survival.
Etymology
Example
The social parasite queen bee mimics the appearance and behavior of a worker bee, laying her eggs in a honeybee colony while suppressing the colony's reproductive output.
Related Terms
- Brood parasitism
- Host manipulation
- Mimicry
Usage Notes
Social parasites often rely on deception and manipulation to exploit their host species' social structures.