The 3M Approach to Insecticide Resistance in Insects
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: integrated pest management; genetic pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; stress-induced hormesis; invasion biology; molecular toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Interests: plant protection; integrated pest management; ecotoxicology; insect physiology and toxicology; invasion biology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Insecticides remain indispensable for controlling numerous insect pest species; however, their widespread and repeated use has accelerated the emergence and diversification of insecticide resistance. Resistance manifests through a broad spectrum of mechanisms, including metabolic detoxification, target site alterations, reduced cuticular penetration, and behavioral avoidance, that compromise the long-term efficacy of existing insecticides. Recognizing the complexity of factors expressed as ‘resistance’ to pest management tactics highlights the need for a comprehensive framework that integrates Mechanisms, Monitoring, and Management (the 3M Approach) to guide sustainable pest control.
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of resistance is essential for elucidating how insect populations adapt to insecticides at molecular, physiological, and behavioral levels. This foundational knowledge informs the design of robust monitoring and surveillance programs, which are essential for early detection and for tracking resistance dynamics in field populations, ultimately guiding evidence-based management decisions. By framing insecticide resistance research through the 3M Approach, which follows the logical workflow of understanding Mechanisms, implementing Monitoring, and applying Management strategies, this Special Issue aims to advance knowledge that supports innovative, sustainable, and reliable pest management strategies worldwide.
This Special Issue, “The 3M Approach to Insecticide Resistance in Insects”, seeks to assemble high-quality contributions that advance our understanding of insecticide resistance through the integrated lens of Mechanisms, Monitoring, and Management (the 3M Approach). We invite submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, methodological studies, and opinion pieces addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Metabolic-based mechanisms of insecticide resistance in insects;
- Target site resistance arising from point mutations;
- Behavioral and cuticular penetration-based resistance mechanisms;
- Molecular, biochemical, and physiological foundations of resistance;
- Fitness costs and trade-offs associated with resistance traits;
- Monitoring, surveillance, and integrated management of resistant populations;
- Functional characterization of resistance-associated genes, proteins, and pathways.
Dr. Farman Ullah
Dr. Yaobin Lu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- metabolic resistance
- target site resistance
- behavioral resistance
- penetration resistance
- insecticide resistance evolution
- resistance monitoring
- resistance mechanisms
- fitness trade-offs
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