Meanings
- uncountableSynonym of summit disease.
Late in the infection of the so-called “treetop disease” this gene gets activated when caterpillars are moved to the upper plant foliage where they die.
2016, Genetics and Molecular Biology of Entomopathogenic Fungi, page 4602 more examples
The image illustrates what is known as treetop disease or summit disease, whereby the host climbs to an exposed position (e.g. on vegetation) before death to facilitate dispersal of the pathogen.
2012, Fernando E. Vega, Harry K. Kaya, Insect Pathology - Volume 2, page 38Perhaps the well-cited example of primary host behaviour that aids in the dissemination of disease is the treetop disease (also known as summit disease) of many lepidopterans and hymenopterans larvae.
2020, Nitesh K. Maru, Ashwani Kumar, Sunil Zachariah, Insect Pathology Text Book and Practical Manual, page 39Synonyms: summit disease
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of summit disease.
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with treetop disease
Cite this entry
treetop disease. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treetop%20disease
“treetop disease.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treetop%20disease. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “treetop disease,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treetop%20disease.
Source: treetop disease on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.