parasitoid
noun
par·a·sit·oid
ˈper-ə-sə-ˌtȯid 
-ˌsī-,
ˈpa-rə-
: an insect and especially a wasp that completes its larval development within the body of another insect eventually killing it and is free-living as an adult
parasitoid
adjective
Examples of parasitoid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Conserve biological control agents such as predators and the parasitoids that feed on insect pests.
—
oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022
Whereas uninfected larvae succumbed to the parasites, the infected larvae—and their plasma—killed almost every parasite, aside from the basket-cocoon parasitoid M. pulchricornis.
—Mennatalla Ibrahim, Science | AAAS, 29 July 2021
The larvae of polyembryonic parasitoid wasps, which hatch from eggs that are laid on top of caterpillar eggs, occasionally develop into adults that are not just infertile but have a habit of eating other larvae.
—Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2021
Recently the researchers used bar coding to take a closer look at 16 species of parasitoid flies known to scientists for more than a century.
—Richard Conniff, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2010
Sensory arsenal on the stinger of the parasitoid jewel wasp and its possible role in identifying cockroach brains.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2014
Like many parasitoid species, the emerald jewel wasp is a specialist with only one option for a host—in this case, the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana.
—Kenneth C. Catania, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
Technically speaking, the alien is a parasitoid, an organism that, unlike most parasites, ultimately kills its host.
—Kenneth C. Catania, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
Similarly, female parasitoid wasps will compete over the most desirable hosts in which to lay their eggs.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Oct. 2020
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oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022
Whereas uninfected larvae succumbed to the parasites, the infected larvae—and their plasma—killed almost every parasite, aside from the basket-cocoon parasitoid M. pulchricornis.
—Mennatalla Ibrahim, Science | AAAS, 29 July 2021
The larvae of polyembryonic parasitoid wasps, which hatch from eggs that are laid on top of caterpillar eggs, occasionally develop into adults that are not just infertile but have a habit of eating other larvae.
—Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2021
Recently the researchers used bar coding to take a closer look at 16 species of parasitoid flies known to scientists for more than a century.
—Richard Conniff, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2010
Sensory arsenal on the stinger of the parasitoid jewel wasp and its possible role in identifying cockroach brains.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2014
Like many parasitoid species, the emerald jewel wasp is a specialist with only one option for a host—in this case, the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana.
—Kenneth C. Catania, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
Technically speaking, the alien is a parasitoid, an organism that, unlike most parasites, ultimately kills its host.
—Kenneth C. Catania, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
Similarly, female parasitoid wasps will compete over the most desirable hosts in which to lay their eggs.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Oct. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parasitoid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1914, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near parasitoid
Cite this Entry
“Parasitoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasitoid. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Medical Definition
parasitoid
1 of 2 adjective
par·a·sit·oid
ˈpar-ə-sə-ˌtȯid
-ˌsīt-ˌȯid
-ˌsīt-ˌȯid
1
: resembling a parasite
2
: being a parasitoid
parasitoid
2 of 2 noun
: an insect and especially a wasp that completes its larval development within the body of another insect which it eventually kills and that is free-living as an adult
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