parasites
They drain hosts
Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host organism, deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
Tapeworms, lice, and mistletoe are parasites.
Figuratively, a parasite is someone who takes from others without contributing: He's a parasite living off his parents.
The word carries strong contempt, suggesting both dependency and exploitation.
One exploiting others' generosity
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
- spongerOne who mooches
opportunist · hanger-on · drain · exploiter · user · taker · dependent · burden
One receiving guests
- tickParasitic eight-legged pest
- fleaBlood-drinking jumping pest
- louseWingless biting parasite
- miteMinuscule arachnid parasite
mosquito · tapeworm · roundworm · hookworm · pinworm · plasmodium · giardia · nematode
Occupy harmfully en masse
- swarmMass of moving insects
- infestationPest takeover situation
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
vermin · overrun · proliferation · eradication · extermination · fumigation · pesticide · blight
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiasisProtozoan intestinal infection
- toxoplasmosisParasitic infection from cats
- leishmaniasisSandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
- elephantiasisParasitic limb-swelling disease
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- symbiontOrganism sharing mutual benefit
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
oxpecker · remora · interdependence · obligate · facultative
freeloader
One exploiting others' generosity
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
sponger · opportunist · hanger-on · drain · exploiter · user · taker · dependent · burden · deadbeat
host
One receiving guests
mite · mosquito · tapeworm · roundworm · hookworm · pinworm · plasmodium · giardia · nematode · helminth
infest
Occupy harmfully en masse
- swarmMass of moving insects
- infestationPest takeover situation
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
contamination · vermin · overrun · proliferation · eradication · extermination · fumigation · pesticide · blight · plague
malaria
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiasisProtozoan intestinal infection
- toxoplasmosisParasitic infection from cats
- leishmaniasisSandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- symbiontOrganism sharing mutual benefit
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
microbiome · oxpecker · remora · interdependence · obligate · facultative
- pestsants, ant, bugs, cockroach, cockroaches
- Pathogenspathogen, germ, germs, bacteria, bacterium
- Water Problemscontamination, turbidity, hard water, low pressure, dry well
- ancient diseasestuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, malaria, rickets
- aquaculture problemsdisease, sea lice, disease outbreak, disease spread, escapees
- Beekeeping Problemscolony collapse, starvation, CCD, swarming, disease
parasitesmutualists
Species benefiting each other
symbionts · hosts · commensals · benefactors · pollinators
parasitesautotrophs
Self-nourishing organisms
producers · photosynthesizers · providers · plants · apex predators
parasitescontributors
Those who give help
producers · benefactors · providers · givers · workers
- parasitic relationshipOne organism drains another
- parasitic diseaseCondition caused by host-dependent organisms
- brain parasitesOrganisms infesting brain tissue
- intestinal parasitesOrganisms infesting digestive tract
- parasitic wormsOrganisms inhabiting host bodies
- brood parasiteSpecies using others' nests
parasite, parasitic, parasitism, parasitize, parasitical, parasitology, parasitized, parasitically, antiparasitic