1. a symbiotic relationship in which one organism attaches to or travels on another organism for transportation, without harming or benefiting the host.
Usage: biology; ecology

Examples

• Phoresy is common among small arthropods that hitch rides on larger animals.
• The mite exhibits phoresy by clinging to the body of a beetle for dispersal.
• In phoresy, the traveling organism gains transportation while the host is largely unaffected.
• Scientists study phoresy to understand how organisms spread across different habitats.
• Some parasitic insects use phoresy as a strategy to reach new hosts.