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Heteroecious
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<p>A heteroecious <a href="/facts/Parasite/HWPcgky7">parasite</a> is one that requires at least two <a href="/facts/Host_(biology)/L6mop0kh">hosts</a>. The <i>primary host</i> is the host in which the parasite spends its adult life; the other is the <i>secondary host</i>. Both hosts are required for the parasite to complete its life cycle. This can be contrasted with an autoecious parasite which can complete its life cycle on a single host species. Many <a href="/facts/Rust_fungi/NbnnK0ay">rust fungi</a> have heteroecious life cycles: </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Parasitology/8UzTjlH8">parasitology</a>, <a href="/facts/Heteroxeny/UdxjKsdE">heteroxeny</a>, or heteroxenous development, is a synonymous term that characterizes a <a href="/facts/Parasite/HWPcgky7">parasite</a> whose development involves several <a href="/facts/Host_(biology)/L6mop0kh">hosts</a>. </p>