What is the term for insects that carry plant pathogens?

The term that best describes insects that carry plant pathogens is "vectors." In the context of plant health, vectors are organisms that do not cause disease themselves but facilitate the transmission of pathogens from one host to another. For instance, certain insects can harbor viruses or bacteria and transport them to healthy plants, leading to the spread of diseases. This role is crucial in understanding plant pathology, as controlling vectors can help manage and mitigate plant disease outbreaks.

Parasites typically derive nourishment at the expense of their host, leading to harm, but they do not specifically refer to carriers of pathogens. Predators consume other organisms for food, which does not inherently involve the transmission of diseases. Pests are generalized terms for organisms that cause harm to plants, but they do not specifically denote those that transmit diseases. Thus, vectors accurately captures the relationship between insects and the plant pathogens they spread.