Nature Production / Cross section through soil showing leaf chafer larva (Mimela sp) growing thinner as larva of parasitic Scolid wasp (Campsomeriella / Campsomeris annulata) feeds off it, Japan

Nature Production / Cross section through soil showing leaf chafer larva (Mimela sp) with egg of a parasitic Scolid wasp (Campsomeriella / Campsomeris annulata), Japan

Andy Sands / Tachinid fly (Phasia hemiptera) male, the female lays its eggs directly onto Forest Bugs and Green Shield Bugs where the larvae live as parasites, Hertfordshire, England, August

Andy Sands / Tachinid fly (Phasia hemiptera) male, the female lays its eggs directly onto Forest Bugs and Green Shield Bugs where the larvae live as parasites, Hertfordshire, England, August

Juergen Freund / Steinitz' shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris steinitzi) with parasitic nudibranch (Gymnodoris nigricolor) feeding on its dorsal fin, the goby lives in symbiosis with the shrimp who digs a burrow which the gob...

Juergen Freund / Steinitz' shrimp goby (Amblyeleotris steinitzi) with parasitic nudibranch (Gymnodoris nigricolor) feeding on its dorsal fin, the goby lives in symbiosis with a shrimp who digs a burrow which the goby...

Juergen Freund / Blackstriped cardinalfish (Apogon nigrofasciatus) with an isopod parasite attached to its back. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) with parasitic flatworms (Waminoa sp). Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Tunicate with orange isopods (Santia sp or Uromunna sp). North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Invasion of parasitic Waminoa flatworms (Waminoa sp) on soft coral. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Flower cardinalfish (Apogon Fleurieu) with an isopod parasite. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Colin Varndell / Common Spangle Galls of the Gall Wasp (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum) on underside of oak leaf. Dorset, UK, September.

Daniel Heuclin / Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) embedded in skin. Vector for Lyme disease and tick-borne meningoencephalitis. Poitou, France, October.

Daniel Heuclin / Mosquito (Anopheles gambiae) feeding on human in controlled conditions. The body is becoming engorged with blood. Malaria vector. Africa, June. Engorging sequence 3 of 3.

Daniel Heuclin / Mosquito (Anopheles gambiae) feeding on human in controlled conditions. Malaria vector. Africa, June. Engorging sequence 1 of 3.

Nick Upton / Deer Botfly / Nasal Botfly (Cephenemyia stimulator) male waiting for females on a rock. Mount Vogel, 1800m, Bohinj, Slovenia, July.

Nick Upton / Bee Fly (Toxophora fasciculata) - a parasite of Potter Wasp larvae - standing on Variegated Spurge (Euphorbia marginata) flowers. Lesbos / Lesvos, Greece, August.

Kevin Schafer / Musky Rat Kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus); the smallest of the Macropods (Kangaroos). It is being parasatised by a tick on its neck. Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia...

Florian Möllers / Dead Wasp clinging to twig after being killed by endoparasitoid fungus. Budongo Forest Reserve, Masindi, Uganda, Africa.

Jouan & Rius / Photographer, Catherine Jouan, removing Leech (Hirudinea) from her foot, Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia. Model released

Ross Hoddinott / Marble galls of Oak marble gall wasp (Andricus kollari) on twig of English oak (Quercus robur). Broxwater, Cornwall, UK, August

Nick Upton / Thick-headed fly / Wasp fly / Conopid fly (Leopoldius signatus) a wasp-mimic parasitoid of adult vespid wasps, resting on Ivy leaves (Hedera helix). Wiltshire garden, UK, September.

Nick Upton / Parasite fly / Tachinid fly (Zophomyia temula), a nationally scarce species, with very worn wings, feeding on Common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers. Wiltshire meadow, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Parasite fly / Tachinid fly (Zophomyia temula), a nationally scarce species, sunbasking on a leaf in calcareous grassland. Wiltshire, UK, June.

Anup Shah / Cape or African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) male lying down with Yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) removing parasites from its nostril. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, August 2009

Adrian Davies / Robin's Pin Cushion / Bedeguar gall, on Dog rose (Rosa canina) caused by the Gall Wasp (Diplolepis rosae) UK, September

Nick Upton / Mistletoe (Viscum album) male plant growing on an apple tree (Malus domesticus) in evening light, Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / Large timberworm beetle (Hylecoetus dermestoides) infested with mites, taking off. This beetle is one of the few insects that cultivate fungus gardens. Brandenburg, Germany, May.

Nick Upton / Nomad / Cuckoo Bee (Nomada fulvicornis) sun basking on a leaf, Wiltshire garden, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Ichneumon Wasp (Ichneumonidae) male on a leaf. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Ichneumon Wasp (Ichneumonidae) portrait at rest on leaf. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Cuckoo bee (Melecta albifrons) a parasite of Hairy-Footed Flower Bees (Anthophora plumipes) and other masonry bees, searching an old wall for host nests. Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / Cuckoo Bee (Melecta albifrons) a parasite of Hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) emerging from host nest in an old wall. Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / Female Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes) prevented from entering her burrow in an old wall by a brood parasitic Cuckoo Bee (Melecta albifrons) Brandenburg, Germany, April.

Nick Upton / White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) queen infested with parasitic mites (Parasitellus fucorum) feeding on Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) flowerhead. Cornwall, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Common Bee fly (Bombylius major) searching for solitary bee nest holes to parasitise. Wiltshire garden, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Common Bee Fly (Bombylius major) searching for solitary bee nest holes to parasitise. Wiltshire, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Common Bee Fly (Bombylius major) hovering above a Common Primrose flower (Primula vulgaris) Wiltshire garden, UK, April.

Alex Hyde / Entomopathogenic fungus covering its deceased host, a tropical grasshopper {Acrididae}, which is still clinging to the plant stem on which it died. tropical rainforest, Andasibe-Mantadia NP, Madagasca...

Marie Read / Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) flowering amid dead Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) stems, on the desert floor, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA. (Paintbrush grows as a partial root-parasite...

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) an external parasitic mite that attacks honey bees.

SINCLAIR STAMMERS / Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) an external parasitic mite that attacks honey bees

Adrian Davies / Common / Lesser Broomrape (Orobanche minor) growing parasitically on Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) Sandwich, Kent, England.

Adrian Davies / Common / Lesser Broomrape (Orobanche minor) growing parasitically on Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) Sandwich, Kent, England.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris) close up of the parasitic twining mass of stems on Triflium (Clover) species. Italy, Europe.

Anup Shah / Cape / African buffalos (Syncerus caffer) lying down with Yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) removing parasites, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February.

Anup Shah / Cape / African buffalos (Syncerus caffer) lying down with Yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) removing parasites, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February.

Anup Shah / Cape / African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) portrait with Yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus) removing parasites, on its head, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February.

Anup Shah / Cape / African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) portrait with Yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus) removing parasites, on its head, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. February.

Doug Perrine / Dolphin fish / Mahi mahi / Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) with small parasites clinging to skin, off Isla Mujeres, near Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Caribbean Sea

Edwin Giesbers / Cytinus flower (Cytinus ruber) parasitic plant, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Edwin Giesbers / Cytinus flower (Cytinus ruber) parasitic plant, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Tim Laman / Unidentifed parasitic plant growing on a tree branch in Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Tim Laman / Strangler fig (Ficus stupenda) roots wrapped around a giant diptocarp host tree and entering a knot hole in the host. Lowland rainforest, Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo, West Kalimantan, Indonesi...

Stephen Dalton / Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) feeding on human skin, UK

Stephen Dalton / Common oak gall wasp (Cynips quercusfolii) exposed inside oak gall, UK

Stephen Dalton / Hedge sparrow / Dunnock (Prunella modularis) feeding Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) chick, UK

Alan Watson / Tree in rainforest at 800m with birds nest fern (Asplenium nidus), Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar January 2009

Nick Upton / Tachinid / Parasite fly (probably Ramonda spathulata) a parasitoid of noctuid moth caterpillars, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Ichneumon wasp (Ichneumon emancipatus) a parasitoid of Lepidopteran caterpillars, nectar feeding on Common hogweed / Cow parsnip flowers, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Sequence 2 / 4. Cleg fly / Horsefly (Haematopa pluvialis) sucking blood from photographer's hand Wiltshire pastureland, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Sequence 1 / 4. Cleg fly / Horsefly (Haematopa pluvialis) about to pierce human skin a second time with blade like mouthparts. Wiltshire pastureland, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Sequence 3 / 4. Cleg fly / Horsefly (Haematopa pluvialis) excreting excess water as it swells up with blood sucked from photographer's arm, Wiltshire pastureland, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Sequence 4 / 4. Cleg fly / Horsefly (Haematopa pluvialis) swollen with blood sucked from photographer's hand, Wiltshire pastureland, UK, June.

Miles Barton / Desert hyacinth (Cistanche tubulosa) parasitic plant with underground tuber, flowering in desert, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Boiled stem traditionally used to cure diarrhoea. Believed to be aphrodis...

Miles Barton / Desert hyacinth (Cistanche tubulosa) parasitic plant with underground tuber, flowering in desert, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Boiled stem traditionally used to cure diarrhoea. Believed to be aphrodis...

Miles Barton / Desert hyacinth (Cistanche tubulosa) parasitic plant with underground tuber, flowering in desert, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Boiled stem traditionally used to cure diarrhoea. Believed to be aphrodis...

Paul Harcourt Davies / Yellow bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa) in flower, semi parasitic on various grasses, Umbria, Italy

Mike Potts / Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) in flower beside flowering Grass trees, North of Perth, Western Australia. December

Mike Potts / Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) in flower beside flowering Grass trees, North of Perth, Western Australia. December

Simon Colmer / Painted lady butterfly larva (Vanessa cardui)parasitised by Braconid wasp or Tabanid fly larva. (Remnants of caterpillar skin have fallen off leaf) Sussex, UK

Stephen Dalton / Dunnock (Prunella modularis) feeding Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) at nest, UK

Doug Wechsler / American Dog Tick / Wood tick (Dermacentor variabilis) adult on skin full of blood; Schuylkill Center, Pennsylvania, USA

David Noton / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) female with several Ticks (Acari) on her face and neck, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Adrian Davies / Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa) parastic on Pine tree, UK

Dave Bevan / Common dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) growing over gorse bush, Wales, UK

Andy Sands / Ichneumon wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria) one of the largest British wasps, using antennae to detect larvae of Wood wasp prey {Urocerus gigas} within cut pine, UK, Captive

Andy Sands / Acorn weevil (Curculio glandium) Drilling hole in developing acorn in which to lay egg, UK, Captive, sequence 2/4

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) with Reed Warbler standing on its back to feed it, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / Ichneumon wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria) one of the largest British wasps, on cut pine, UK, Captive

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) with Reed Warbler standing on its back to feed it, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / Ichneumon wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria) one of the largest British wasps, preening on Dock leaf, UK, Captive

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) on nest of Reed Warbler, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) on nest of Reed Warbler, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) perched on post, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) on Reed Warbler nest with surrogate parent, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / European Cuckoo chick (Cuculus canorus) Reed Warbler feeding Cuckoo chick at nest, West Sussex, England, UK

Andy Sands / Acorn weevil (Curculio glandium) drilling hole in developing acorn in which to lay egg, UK, Captive, sequence 3/4

Andy Sands / Acorn weevil (Curculio glandium) Drilling hole in developing acorn in which to lay egg, UK, Captive, sequence 4/4

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Tortoise ticks on a Marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Parasitoid wasp (Ichneumonidae) carrying a large paralysed caterpillar to its nesting hole, The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Tortoise ticks on a Marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata) The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Stephen Dalton / Harvetman {Opiliones} with ticks, UK

Stephen Dalton / Bird louse {Philopteridae} gripping peacock's feather, UK

Stephen Dalton / Bird louse {Philopteridae} gripping peacock's feather, UK

Stephen Dalton / Bird louse {Philopteridae} gripping peacock's feather, UK