The reduction of food web robustness by parasitism: Fact and artefact

► Food webs with parasites are less structurally robust. ► The reduction of food web robustness is mainly due to the life cycle constraints of parasites. ► Parasites are prone to secondary extinctions in the food web and their extinctions often occur earlier than those involving non-parasitic species. ► The vulnerable nature of parasites to species loss makes them sensitive indicators of food web integrity.