Superparasitism
(Redirected from Superparasite)
Superparasitism is a phenomenon in parasitology where a single host is parasitized by multiple individuals of the same parasitoid species. This can occur when a parasitoid lays more eggs in a host that has already been parasitized, leading to competition among the larvae for resources.
Mechanisms[edit | edit source]
Superparasitism can occur due to several reasons:
- **Host availability**: In environments where hosts are scarce, parasitoids may be forced to lay eggs in already parasitized hosts.
- **Host quality**: Some hosts may be of such high quality that they can support multiple parasitoid larvae.
- **Parasitoid behavior**: Some parasitoids may not be able to recognize that a host has already been parasitized, leading to repeated oviposition.
Consequences[edit | edit source]
The consequences of superparasitism can vary:
- **Intraspecific competition**: Larvae from the same species compete for limited resources within the host, which can lead to reduced survival rates.
- **Host immune response**: The host may mount a stronger immune response against multiple parasitoid larvae, potentially killing them.
- **Evolutionary implications**: Superparasitism can drive the evolution of parasitoid strategies, such as the development of mechanisms to suppress the host's immune response or to recognize already parasitized hosts.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Superparasitism is observed in various parasitoid species, including:
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
- Multiparasitism: When a host is parasitized by multiple individuals of different parasitoid species.
- Hyperparasitism: When a parasitoid itself is parasitized by another parasitoid.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD