Parasites and Parasitoids

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense, resulting in the death of the host. A parasitoid is an insect whose larvae live as parasites that eventually kill their hosts (typically other insects).

This differs from social parasitism, where the "parasite" does not feed directly on their host, but rather benefits from exploiting the host's colony.

A pathogen is an infectious microorganism or agent, such as a virus, bacterium, protozoan, prion, viroid, or fungus. Small animals, such as certain worms or insects, can also cause or transmit disease. However, these animals are referred to as parasites rather than pathogens.

Major Groups of Parasites

 * Arthropods
 * Diptera
 * Microdon Flies
 * Phorid Flies
 * Hymenoptera
 * Eucharitid Wasps
 * Lepidoptera
 * Mites
 * Strepsiptera
 * Gregarines
 * Nematodes
 * Platyhelminthes (Cestodes, Trematodes)

Major Groups of Pathogens

 * Entomopathogenic fungi
 * Laboulbeniales
 * Labial Gland Disease
 * Microsporidia
 * Bacteria and Viruses
 * Entomoplasma
 * Spiroplasma
 * Wolbachia