Hyperparasite

Under hyperparasite is understood in biology parasites which infect other parasites.

Examples

Some parasitic wasps have a weak ovipositor to reach the larval body of the host itself. Therefore wait up to an occupancy by the wood wasp and then use the branch channel to lay her egg in the wood wasp larva, which thus itself becomes the host.

There are also biting midges, which suck mammalian blood from other blood-sucking insects.

The very rare ichneumon ichneumon Eumerus parasitizes the Cross Gentian (Maculinea rebeli ), the parasite itself in certain ants ( Myrmica schencki ).