ectoparasite

American  

[ek-toh-par-uh-sahyt] / ˌɛk toʊˈpær əˌsaɪt /

noun

1. an external parasite (endoparasite ).

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ectoparasite British  

/ ˌɛktəʊˌpærəˈsɪtɪk, ˌɛktəʊˈpærəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. Also called: exoparasite.  a parasite, such as the flea, that lives on the outer surface of its host

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ectoparasite Scientific  

/ ĕk′tə-păr′ə-sīt′ /

1. See under parasite

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Other Word Forms

• ectoparasitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ectoparasite

First recorded in 1860–65; ecto- + parasite

Example Sentences

The researchers plan to expand this project internationally to see how ectoparasite disgust responses vary in different countries and in different languages.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2021

But vomiting is somewhat futile against a tick, an ectoparasite that latches on to skin, not stomachs.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2021

The final ectoparasite clips included a kitten riddled with fleas, a nightmarish bed bug infestation and a beauty shot of a mosquito sucking blood.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2021

In all three surveys, participants had distinct reactions to the ectoparasite videos when compared with the pathogen videos.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2021

The only kind of ectoparasite found on captive cottonmouths in the course of my study was a snake mite, Ophionyssus natricus.

From Natural History of Cottonmouth Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscovorus (Reptilia) by Burkett, Ray D.