Hyperparasite
A parasite that infects other parasites. In the rainforest example, a fungus that preys on the zombie-ant fungus itself.
An organism that parasitizes another parasite. Rather than directly infecting a host, it targets parasites already living in or on other creatures, effectively creating a chain of parasitism. Hyperparasites can regulate parasite populations and are studied in ecology and biological control.
What this means in real life
A wasp lays eggs inside a caterpillar that is already infected with a parasitic fly larva. The wasp larvae then feed on the fly larvae, creating a chain where the caterpillar hosts both parasites.
What it isn’t
Not simply a parasite that infects multiple hosts or a parasite with multiple life stages. A hyperparasite specifically depends on another parasite as its immediate food source, not on the original host directly.
Commonly misused online
Often used metaphorically to describe exploitative middlemen or 'parasites on parasites' in economic contexts, conflating the biological term with abstract power dynamics.
Based on 1 reference source, including news reporting. Last verified July 14, 2026.