BusinessAugust 24, 2026

parasitoids

PAIR-uh-si-toydz

Definition

Organisms that live as parasites during their larval stage and eventually kill their host.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'parasitos' (meaning someone who eats at another's table) combined with the suffix '-oid' (meaning 'resembling'). The term was coined in the early 20th century to distinguish these organisms, which kill their hosts, from traditional parasites that usually do not.

In the news

The article mentions parasitoids as part of the natural ecosystem in regenerative soybean and corn plots, highlighting how they contribute to the mortality of pests like caterpillars.

Brasil AgrochemShow Highlights Regulatory, Technology and Market Trends in Brazilian Agriculture

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Global Agriculture

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