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Smart and Green Strategies for Insect Pest Management
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Xianghu Laboratory, Institute of Bio-Interaction, Hangzhou 311258, China
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lu
1. Xianghu Laboratory, Institute of Bio-Interaction, Hangzhou 311258, China
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
College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Smart and Green Strategies for Insect Pest Management

Abstract submission deadline
27 December 2026
Manuscript submission deadline
28 February 2027
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2231

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insect pest management is shifting from conventional chemical control toward smarter and greener strategies that improve efficacy while reducing ecological and resistance-related risks. This Topic welcomes studies addressing innovative approaches for sustainable insect pest control, including insecticide resistance mechanisms, molecular toxicology, sublethal and hormetic effects of insecticides, demographic responses, RNA interference, nanocarrier-mediated delivery systems, nano-pesticide formulations, and integrated pest management. Particular attention will be given to research linking molecular mechanisms with physiological, behavioral, population-level, and agroecosystem outcomes. Contributions may include laboratory, greenhouse, field, and modeling studies that advance risk assessment, improve pesticide selectivity, enhance RNAi or nano-pesticide performance, or support reduced reliance on broad-spectrum chemical insecticides. By integrating molecular biology, toxicology, pest ecology, crop protection, and sustainable agriculture, this Topic aims to promote next-generation pest management strategies that are effective, environmentally compatible, and suitable for resilient agricultural systems.

Dr. Farman Ullah
Prof. Dr. Yaobin Lu
Prof. Dr. Shuo Yan
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • insect pest management
  • green pest control
  • insecticide resistance
  • RNA interference
  • nano-pesticides
  • nanocarrier delivery
  • molecular toxicology
  • hormesis
  • demographic analysis
  • sustainable agriculture

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Agriculture
agriculture 		4.5 7.8 2011 17.4 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
cimb 		4.1 5.0 1999 15.5 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Insects
insects 		3.0 5.3 2010 19.7 Days CHF 2600 Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
ijms 		5.6 10.0 2000 17.5 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Plants
plants 		4.7 8.5 2012 14.8 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Stresses
stresses 		- 10.0 2021 16.5 Days CHF 1200 Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 2797 KB  
Article
Wavelength-Specific Artificial Light Disrupts Calling Behavior, Pheromone Blend Composition, and Mating Success in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
by Fida Hussain Magsi, Amees Ullah, Yihui Ma, Jianrong Huang, Guoping Li, Xincheng Zhao and Hongqiang Feng
Insects 2026, 17(8), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17080809 - 4 Aug 2026
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Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) and the broader use of artificial light in agriculture are increasingly recognized to affect the physiology and behavior of nocturnal insects, yet their influence on pheromone-mediated reproductive communication in economically important insect pest species remains poorly understood. Here, [...] Read more.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) and the broader use of artificial light in agriculture are increasingly recognized to affect the physiology and behavior of nocturnal insects, yet their influence on pheromone-mediated reproductive communication in economically important insect pest species remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of artificial illumination on calling behavior, sex pheromone production, blend composition, and mating success in the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda, under both laboratory and semi-field conditions. Virgin females were exposed during the scotophase to one of four wavelength-specific treatments, including dark control, red (620 nm), green (520 nm), or blue (460 nm) LED light. Female calling behavior occurred during the early-to-mid scotophase under dark and red light conditions, while it was significantly delayed and suppressed under blue and green light. Specifically, blue light suppressed production of the key pheromone component (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac) and enhanced (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac), altering the species-specific pheromone blend composition. Mating success was significantly reduced under blue light in both laboratory and semi-field experiments. Under controlled laboratory conditions, green light also affected mating success, but this effect was not significant in the semi-field experiment. Blue light imposed the strongest inhibitory effect, reducing mating success by 39% relative to the dark condition. Red light produced minimal effects in all measured parameters, consistent with reduced sensitivity to longer wavelengths in nocturnal moths. These results demonstrate that wavelength-specific artificial light can disrupt several components of the reproductive communication system in S. frugiperda and suggest that manipulation of artificial light may offer a non-chemical approach for disrupting mating behavior in economically important insect pest species within integrated pest management programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Smart and Green Strategies for Insect Pest Management)
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19 pages, 9342 KB  
Review
Chemical Signaling and Integrated Strategies for Biological Control in Crop Agroecosystems
by Shakil Ahmad, Dasong Chen, Yongjie Cen, Momana Jamil, Hina Gul, Valeria Palma-Onetto, Gecheng Ouyang and Meng Xiang
Insects 2026, 17(8), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17080808 - 4 Aug 2026
Viewed by 593
Abstract
Food security faces significant challenges due to the growing threat of insect pests and global climate change, making it essential to adopt sustainable agricultural strategies. Plants possess intrinsic defense systems that are activated in response to herbivore attack, including the emission of specialized [...] Read more.
Food security faces significant challenges due to the growing threat of insect pests and global climate change, making it essential to adopt sustainable agricultural strategies. Plants possess intrinsic defense systems that are activated in response to herbivore attack, including the emission of specialized volatile organic compounds (VOC) known as herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). These volatiles aid the foraging of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), thereby contributing to biological control of pest populations. Harnessing these chemical defense mechanisms offers a promising avenue for pest management, although natural enemy attraction does not necessarily result in pest suppression or increased crop yield. This review synthesizes plant and insect-derived chemical signaling mechanisms with direct relevance to biological control in crop agroecosystems, including field crops, orchards, vegetable systems, and protected cultivation. We emphasize recent applied research while retaining selected foundational studies that established the principal concepts and mechanisms underlying chemically mediated pest management. Considering the importance of chemical signaling in sustainable agriculture, we propose four key research directions: (1) optimizing plant defense induction mechanisms; (2) integrating HIPVs with natural enemy pheromone-based attractants; (3) combining habitat management with the provision of plant-derived food resources; and (4) harnessing plant defenses through breeding and infochemical-based genetically modified crops. Additionally, we examine the potential impacts of environmental stressors on plant–herbivore chemical communication, underscoring their importance for resilient and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Smart and Green Strategies for Insect Pest Management)
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