Discloses an insecticidal or herbicidal composition comprising: (A) an isolated strain of Burkholderia sp. A 396 (NRRL Accession No. B-50319); (B) a C1-C8 paraben, and (C) a C2-C17 alcohol, wherein said C1-C8 paraben is formed by incubating (A) and (C) at a temperature sufficient to produce said C1-C8 paraben.