also: きせいバチ · やどりばち · やどりバチ · きせいほう
noun
parasitoid wasp; parasitic wasp; parasitic bee
Refers to insects, primarily wasps, whose larvae develop on or within a host arthropod, eventually killing it. The term covers both parasitoid and parasitic species, though in strict biological usage 'parasitoid' is more accurate. The gloss 'parasitic bee' is less common and may refer to cuckoo bees or similar insects.
寄生蜂は害虫の天敵として農業で利用されている。
Parasitoid wasps are used in agriculture as natural enemies of pests.
This parasitic wasp lays its eggs inside aphids.
Compound of 寄生 (kisei, 'parasitism') and 蜂 (hachi, 'bee' or 'wasp'). The reading きせいばち is the standard Sino-Japanese compound reading. Alternate readings やどりばち and きせいほう are less common.