Parasitoid - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A parasitoid is an organism that lives on or inside a host, eventually killing it. Unlike parasites, parasitoids always kill their hosts, often during their larval stage. Common examples include certain wasps and flies.
Definition:
An organism that lives as a parasite and eventually kills its host.
Synonyms:
parasitic insect, predator, hyperparasite, biological control agent
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
host, symbiont
Common Collocations:
parasitoid wasp, parasitoid larvae, parasitoid behavior, host-parasitoid interaction
Derivatives:
parasitoidal, parasitoidism
Usage Tips:
Use "parasitoid" to describe organisms like certain wasps that kill their hosts after feeding on them.
Common Phrases:
natural enemy, biological control, host-specific parasitoid
Etymology:
Derived from "parasite" + "-oid," meaning resembling a parasite but with lethal effects on the host.
Examples:
- 1. The parasitoid wasp laid eggs inside the caterpillar.
- 2. Farmers use parasitoids to control pest populations naturally.
- 3. The larvae emerged, killing their host as true parasitoids do.
- 4. Studying parasitoid behavior helps in biological pest management.