Everything You Need to Know About Parasitoids

Do you know the difference between a parasite and parasitoid? Many confuse the two, but the striking difference between them is that parasitoids generally kill their host to survive, while parasites tend to do just the opposite.

Some parasitoids devour the internal organs of the host organism, starting with the least essential organs and saving the most valuable for last. This technique keeps the host alive for as long as possible, or just long enough until the parasitoid can survive on its own.

After the parasitoid reaches its adult stages, it searches for a new host to lay eggs and begin the cycle all over again.

While the cycle may seem barbaric at first glance, parasitoids serve a vital purpose in the wild: they keep host organism populations under control and maintain a balanced ecosystem.