Parasitism is a relationship between species where 1 party benefits (parasite) whereas the other party (host) loses. Ectoparasite lives on the body of the host whereas endoparasites live inside the host.
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| Rafflesia - Parasitic plant - Absorbs both food and water from host. |
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| A tomato hornworm is covered with cocoons of pupating braconid wasps. The braconid wasp is considered a parasitoid of the hornworm because it causes the hornworm to die as it pupates. By the time the wasps undergo metamorphosis, all of the hosts insides have been digested, thus by the time they are ready to pupate, the caterpillar will die. While this may be detrimental to the tomato hornworm, it is considered beneficial for gardeners...as the tomato hornworm can be a signifant pest. Parasitism usually connotes a negative feeling; however as seen in this case, it can be considered beneficial. |
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| A female mosquito blood feeding |
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A cluster of nematodes, the roundworm of dogs, Toxocara canis. This parasite is common in puppies and may be transmitted transplacentally as well as to nursing pups in their mother's milk. |
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| A female Nasonia vitripennis laying a clutch of eggs into the pupa of a blowfly (Phormia regina) |
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This shows parasitism. The tick gets the blood it needs to survive, but the
dog is harmed by the tick transmitting disease into its blood. |
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An extreme example of blowfly parasitism on a 6-day-old nestling Purple Martin. This nestling's siblings had died, apparently of blowfly parasitism, forcing every maggot in the nest to be dependent on just a single host individual for their continued nourishment
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