parasitoid

noun

par·a·sit·oid | \ ˈper-ə-sə-ˌtȯid

, -ˌsī-, ˈpa-rə- \

Definition of parasitoid

: 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

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Examples of parasitoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Technically speaking, the alien is a parasitoid, an organism that, unlike most parasites, ultimately kills its host. — Kenneth C. Catania, Scientific American, "The Epic, Absurdly Complex Battle between a Zombie Maker and Its Victim," 1 Feb. 2021 Similarly, female parasitoid wasps will compete over the most desirable hosts in which to lay their eggs. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "There’s no place like the perfectly sized home for the mighty mantis shrimp," 29 Oct. 2020 Researchers including Hoddle are evaluating the parasitoid for possible release in California. — Marc Mcandrews, Smithsonian Magazine, "Can Scientists Stop the Plague of the Spotted Lanternfly?," 22 Sep. 2020 Condos is also encouraged by the potential for parasitoid introduction. — Marc Mcandrews, Smithsonian Magazine, "Can Scientists Stop the Plague of the Spotted Lanternfly?," 22 Sep. 2020 Shockley’s favorite parasitoid might be the emerald wasp. — Lela Nargi, Washington Post, "Some wasps, flies and ants can turn fellow insects into zombies," 28 Oct. 2019 Most efforts to control invasive insects have relied on parasites and parasitoids, which lay eggs and complete their life cycles in or on the target species. — Gabriel Popkin, Science | AAAS, "Aphid-munching beetle could help save hemlock forests," 15 Jan. 2020 Shockley says other parasitoids use their hosts’ existing behaviors. — Lela Nargi, Washington Post, "Some wasps, flies and ants can turn fellow insects into zombies," 28 Oct. 2019 There are fly parasitoids that decapitate (or take the heads off) fire ants. — Lela Nargi, Washington Post, "Some wasps, flies and ants can turn fellow insects into zombies," 28 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parasitoid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

24 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Parasitoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasitoid. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for parasitoid

parasitoid

adjective

par·a·sit·oid | \ ˈpar-ə-sə-ˌtȯid

, -ˌsīt-ˌȯid

Medical Definition of parasitoid

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : resembling a parasite

2 : being a parasitoid

parasitoid

noun

Medical Definition of parasitoid (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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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