You searched for: “parasitism
parasitism
Symbiosis in which members of one species exist at the expense of members of another species, usually without going so far as to cause their deaths.
This entry is located in the following unit: Ant and Related Entomology Terms (page 15)
Word Entries containing the term: “parasitism
inquilinism, permanent social parasitism
The relation in which a socially parasitic species spends the entire life cycle in the nests of its host species.

Workers are either lacking or, if present, scarce and degenerate in behavior. This condition is sometimes referred to loosely as permanent parasitism.

This entry is located in the following unit: Ant and Related Entomology Terms (page 9)
temporary social parasitism
Parasitism in which a queen of one species enters an alien nest, usually belonging to another species, kills or renders the resident queen infertile, and takes her place.

The population of the colony then becomes increasingly dominated by the offspring of the parasite queen as the host workers die from natural causes.

This entry is located in the following unit: Ant and Related Entomology Terms (page 22)
trophic parasitism, trail parasitism
The intrusion of one species into the social system of another (as, for example, by utilization of the trail system) in order to steal food.
This entry is located in the following unit: Ant and Related Entomology Terms (page 23)