hyperparasite A parasite that lives in or on another parasite. The most common examples are insects that lay their eggs inside or near parasitoid larvae, which are themselves parasitizing the tissues of a host, again usually an insect larva. Hyperparasites, more strictly termed hyperparasitoids, are found mainly among the Hymenoptera (wasps, sawflies, etc.), although some flies and beetles also adopt this strategy.

hyperparasite A parasitic insect that lives in or on a host that is itself parasitic on another species of insect. If the parasite kills the host as a consequence of its own development it is more commonly called a ‘parasitoid’.

hyperparasite A parasite that exploits another parasite; a ‘superparasite’.