Both the adults and larvae feed on a wide variety of pests but are highly intolerant of pesticides. B. Ichneumonid and Brachonid Wasps are small wasps which commonly attack caterpillars and aphids. The larvae usually emerge from the dying host and spin small white or yellow cocoons. C. Tachiniid Flies are generally medium to large flies which lay eggs on caterpillars or various leaf feeding beetles. The eggs hatch into maggots which feed on and eventually kill the host insect.
Pathogens are simply a variety of diseases which kill insects.
They are usually bacteria, virus, fungi and protozoa. Insect pathogens are fairly ideal in that they are very host specific. They are also very non-infective to vertebrates. Bt 'Kurstaki' - which affects only young caterpillars. Bt 'Israelensis' - which affects aquatic fly larvae such as mosquitos and black flies.