What does parasitoid mean?
A parasitoid is an organism, usually an insect, whose immature stages feed on or within a single host and eventually kill it. This distinguishes it from a true parasite, which generally obtains nourishment while its host remains alive. The term is especially common in entomology, ecology, and biological control, where parasitoid wasps, flies, and other insects may be used to attack pest insects. Parasitoid also functions attributively, as in “parasitoid larva” and “parasitoid wasp.” Although the word sounds broadly biological, its defining feature is developmental and ecological rather than taxonomic: it describes a life history involving one host and a fatal outcome, not a particular species or body form. In everyday writing, “parasitoid” is appropriately technical, and the distinction from “parasite” is worth making explicitly because the two terms overlap in nontechnical usage.
An organism, typically an insect, whose immature stages develop on or within a host and ultimately kill it.
"The parasitoid was released into the field to control populations of the crop-damaging caterpillar."
Used chiefly in biology and applied fields such as biological control; not every parasite is a parasitoid.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a parasitoid or its developmental stages.
"Researchers recorded the precise location of each parasitoid larva within its host."
Common in technical biological contexts, especially in combinations such as parasitoid wasp and parasitoid larva.
The regular plural refers to individual parasitoid organisms.
"The two parasitoids eventually killed the caterpillars in which they had developed."
Unlike a typical parasite, a parasitoid has a fatal agenda: its young feed on the host and eventually kill it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parasitoid come from?
Parasitoid combines the English word parasite with the combining form -oid. These elements ultimately derive from Latin parasitus, from Greek parasitos meaning “one who eats beside another,” and Greek -oeidēs meaning “resembling” or “of the form.” The compound refers to an organism whose parasitic development ultimately results in the death of its host.
How parasitoid is actually used
Chiefly a technical term in biology, particularly entomology, ecology, and biological control. It is not regionally restricted and is normally written as one word.
Easily confused with parasitoid
A parasite generally obtains nourishment from a living host without necessarily killing it, whereas a parasitoid develops on or within its host and ultimately kills it.