noun
- a parasitic relationship in which a parasite itself becomes the host to another parasite
Usage: biology; ecology
Examples
- Hyperparasitism occurs when a wasp that parasitizes caterpillars is itself parasitized by another wasp species.
- In the food web, hyperparasitism creates a third trophic level within the parasitic relationship.
- Scientists study hyperparasitism to understand complex ecological interactions in natural populations.
- The hyperparasitism of insect parasitoids has important implications for biological pest control.
- Hyperparasitism can reduce the effectiveness of natural enemies used in agriculture.