Parasitoids are organisms that live in association with a host organism, ultimately killing it. These organisms are typically insects or other arthropods that lay their eggs on or inside the host, with the developing parasitoid larvae consuming the host from the inside out. Parasitoids play an important role in natural ecosystems by helping to control populations of other organisms, such as pests that damage crops. Research in the field of parasitoid biology focuses on understanding the interactions between parasitoids and their hosts, as well as developing methods for using parasitoids as biological control agents in agriculture.