exoparasite
Surface-dwelling pest organism
An exoparasite is a parasite that lives on the outside of its host rather than inside the body.
Fleas, ticks, and lice are exoparasites—they feed on blood or skin while remaining on the surface.
The term is interchangeable with ectoparasite in biological contexts: The veterinarian treated the dog for exoparasites.
Organism feeding on host externally
- tickParasitic eight-legged pest
- fleaBlood-drinking jumping pest
- louseWingless biting parasite
- miteMinuscule arachnid parasite
bedbug · leech · mosquito · lice · chigger · botfly · screwworm · warble
Organism feeding on plasma
- blood mealDried, powdered animal protein
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- suckingDrawing by mouth
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
attachment · engorge · proboscis · mouthparts · mandibles · anticoagulant · feeding · dermis
Pest takeover situation
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- infestOccupy harmfully en masse
- nitsLice before hatching
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
eggs · colony · swarm · breeding · lifecycle · nymph · molt · population
Quantity with direction
- transmissionSending of information
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- zoonosisAnimal-to-human disease transmission
malaria · typhus · plague · encephalitis · leishmaniasis · carrier · infection · endemic
One receiving guests
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- specificityExactness of detail
- lifecycleStages from beginning to end
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
niche · resistance · tolerance · grooming · virulence · fitness · selection · obligate
ectoparasite
Organism feeding on host externally
mite · bedbug · leech · mosquito · lice · chigger · botfly · screwworm · warble · crab louse
bloodsucker
Organism feeding on plasma
- blood mealDried, powdered animal protein
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- suckingDrawing by mouth
biting · attachment · engorge · proboscis · mouthparts · mandibles · anticoagulant · feeding · dermis · skin
infestation
Pest takeover situation
larvae · eggs · colony · swarm · breeding · lifecycle · nymph · molt · population · spread
vector
Quantity with direction
- transmissionSending of information
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
zoonosis · malaria · typhus · plague · encephalitis · leishmaniasis · carrier · infection · endemic · epidemic
host
One receiving guests
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- specificityExactness of detail
- lifecycleStages from beginning to end
adaptation · niche · resistance · tolerance · grooming · virulence · fitness · selection · obligate · facultative
- "Exo-" wordsexoplanet, exoskeleton, exosuit, exobiology, exosphere