Facultative parasite
Encyclopedia
A facultative parasite is an organism
that may resort to parasitic activity, but does not absolutely rely on any host
for completion of its life cycle.
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
that may resort to parasitic activity, but does not absolutely rely on any host
Host (biology)
In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna...
for completion of its life cycle.