Question

What are parasites? Explain giving two examples.

Answer 1

Parasites are organisms that depend upon other organisms for their food. The organism that a parasite depends upon for food is known as the host. The parasite is usually harmful to the health of the host and can even kill the host. Some examples of parasites are:

1. The Cuscuta plant is a parasitic plant that grows on other plants and inserts its root like projections known as haustoria into the host plant to suck out nutrients from the host plant. The Cuscuta plant does not have well developed leaves and relies mostly upon its host for obtaining food.
2. Mosquitoes, leeches and bed bugs are examples of parasites that survive on blood that they suck from humans and other animals. Since, these parasites live outside the body of the host, they are called ecto-parasites.