hyperparasite

American  

[hahy-per-par-uh-sahyt] / ˌhaɪ pərˈpær əˌsaɪt /

noun

Biology.

1. an organism that is parasitic on or in another parasite.

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hyperparasite British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈpærəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. an organism that is parasitic on another parasite

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Other Word Forms

• hyperparasitic adjective
• hyperparasitism noun

Etymology

Origin of hyperparasite

First recorded in 1825–35; hyper- + parasite

Example Sentences

A hyperparasite is a parasite that is itself parasitized by another insect.

From National Geographic

By covering the original fungus and its stalk, this secondary fungus—or hyperparasite—effectively prevents the zombie-ant fungus from ejecting its spores.

From Scientific American

This makes the hyperparasite another obligate parasite, which depends on the zombie-ant fungus, which depends, in turn, on the carpenter ant colony.

From Scientific American

Hyperparasite: is a form that is parasitic upon another parasite.

From Project Gutenberg