Parasite

A parasite is an organism that derives benefit from another organism. The other organism is usually termed the 'host' and the action of the parasite is usually detrimental to the host.

Invertebrate examples of parasites include fleas, lice and ticks living on vertebrates. Mites can be parasites of vertebrates and invertebrates.

Parasites do not kill their host directly but may weaken it to the point where it is susceptible to infection.

An illustration of a flea by F. G. A. M. Smit, late custodian of the Rothschild collection of Siphonaptera at Tring.

Related terms

• Bee-fly
• Brood parasitism
• Bubonic plague
• Ectoparasite
• Endoparasite
• Harvest mite
• Host
• Kleptoparasite
• Parasitism
• Parasitoid
• Phthiraptera
• Siphonaptera

Related groups of terms

• General biology

Related pages on this web site

• Biting and Sucking Lice - Order Phthiraptera
• Fleas - Order Siphonaptera

See other words beginning with P