heteroecious

het·er·oe·cious  (ht-rshs)

adj.

Spending different stages of a life cycle on different, usually unrelated hosts. Used of parasites such as rust fungi and tapeworms.

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[hetero- + Greek oiki, house; see weik-¹ in Indo-European roots + -ous.]

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heter·oecism (-szm) n.

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heteroecious [ˌhɛtəˈriːʃəs]

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) (of parasites, esp rust fungi) undergoing different stages of the life cycle on different host species Compare autoecious

[from hetero- + -oecious, from Greek oikia house]

heteroecism  n

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heteroecious  (ht-rshs)

Relating to a parasite that spends different stages of its life cycle on different, usually unrelated hosts. The term is used especially of certain kinds of rust fungi, but may also be applied to other parasites like tapeworms. Compare autoecious.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

heteroecious - of parasites; passing through different stages of the life cycle on different host species; "heteroecious fungi"; "heteroecious insects" autoecious, homoecious - of parasites especially rust fungi; completing the entire life cycle on a single host; "autoecious rust fungi"