# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Insect Pest Control Strategies Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/insect-pest-control-strategies/2026*

## What topics and trends defined most-cited Insect Pest Control Strategies research in the Class of 2026?

Insect pest control research in 2024 is dominated by essential oils, insecticide resistance, and molecular docking target screening. The field demonstrates a strong cohort shift away from standard LC50 toxicity testing toward biological control, reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative stress, and detoxification enzyme pathways to overcome chemical resistance.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Field | Insect Pest Control Strategies |
| Cohort label | Class of 2026 (2024 publications) |
| Papers analyzed | 6,945 |
| Papers ranked | 20 |
| Top topics in ranked papers | Essential oils, insecticide resistance, molecular docking, detoxification enzymes, biopesticides |
| Publication window | Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Eligibility | Research articles; reviews excluded |
| Citation window | 18 months post-publication |
| 18m citation range | 22–98 |
| Data source | OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026 |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |

## Rankings

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Pervasive sublethal effects of agrochemicals on insects at environmentally relevant concentrations | Lautaro Gandara, Richard Jacoby, François Laurent, Matteo Spatuzzi, Nikolaos Vlachopoulos, Noa O Borst, Gülina Ekmen, Clement M Potel, Martin Garrido-Rodriguez, Antonia L Böhmert, Natalia Misunou, Bartosz J Bartmanski, Xueying C Li, Dominik Kutra, Jean-Karim Hériché, Christian Tischer, Maria Zimmermann-Kogadeeva, Victoria A Ingham, Mikhail M Savitski, Jean-Baptiste Masson, Michael Zimmermann, Justin Crocker | Lautaro Gándara, Justin Crocker | European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Germany | Science | 98 | 10.1126/science.ado0251 |
| 2 | Network toxicological and molecular docking to investigate the mechanisms of toxicity of agricultural chemical Thiabendazole | Junhui He, Xiufang Zhu, Kaimeng Xu, Ye Li, Juying Zhou | Juying Zhou | Guangxi Minzu University, China | Chemosphere | 67 | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142711 |
| 3 | Green synthesis of Eucalyptus globulus zinc nanoparticles and its use in antimicrobial insect repellent paint formulation in bulk industrial production | Hammad Majeed, Tehreema Iftikhar, Muhammad Ashir Nadeem, Muhammad Altaf Nazir | Hammad Majeed, Tehreema Iftikhar | University of Management and Technology (UMT), Pakistan | Heliyon | 64 | 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24467 |
| 4 | Innovative formulation strategies for botanical- and essential oil-based insecticides | K. C. Sarmah, Thirumurugan Anbalagan, M. Murugan, Paramasivam Mariappan, Suganthi Angappan, Sendhilvel Vaithiyanathan | K. C. Sarmah | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India | Journal of Pest Science | 46 | 10.1007/s10340-024-01846-2 |
| 5 | Effect of a spatial repellent on malaria incidence in an area of western Kenya characterised by high malaria transmission, insecticide resistance, and universal coverage of insecticide treated nets (part of the AEGIS Consortium): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial | Eric O Ochomo, John E Gimnig, Quentin Awori, Bernard Abong'o, Prisca Oria, Nickline K Ashitiba, Brian Polo, Vincent Moshi, Hilda Otanga, Ferdinard Adung'o, Eunice A Ouma, Susan Outa, Edith Ramaita, Rebecca Levine, Wycliffe Odongo, Steven A Harvey, April Monroe, Ashley Hudson, Bradley Sandberg, Jared Hendrickson, Xingyuan Zhao, Ruyu Zhou, Fang Liu, Nicole L Achee, John P Grieco | Nicole L. Achee | Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya | The Lancet | 37 | 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)02253-0 |
| 6 | Thiadiazole/Thiadiazine Derivatives as Insecticidal Agent: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Assessment of 1,3,4-(Thiadiazine/Thiadiazole)-Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives as IGRs Analogues against <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i> | Ahmed M El-Saghier, Souhaila S Enaili, Aly Abdou, Abdullah Y A Alzahrani, Sana Ben Moussa, Mohamed A Gad, Asmaa M Kadry | Ahmed M. M. El‐Saghier, Mohamed A. Gad | Sohag University, Egypt | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 35 | 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09703 |
| 7 | Pyridine Derivatives as Insecticides. Part 5. New Thieno[2,3-<i>b</i>]pyridines and Pyrazolo[3,4-<i>b</i>]pyridines Containing Mainly Ethyl Nicotinate Scaffold and Their Insecticidal Activity toward <i>Aphis gossypii</i> (Glover,1887) | Suzan Abuelhassan, Abdu E Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed A Gad, Mohamed A M Youssef, Shams H Abdel-Hafez, Etify A Bakhite | Etify A. Bakhite | Assiut University, Egypt | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 34 | 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03112 |
| 8 | Synthesis, insecticidal Activity, and molecular docking analysis of some benzo[h]quinoline derivatives against Culex pipiens L. Larvae | Eman A E El-Helw, Eslam M Hosni, Mahmoud Kamal, Ahmed I Hashem, Sayed K Ramadan | Sayed K. Ramadan | Ain Shams University, Egypt | Bioorganic Chemistry | 34 | 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107591 |
| 9 | Enhanced capacity of a leaf beetle to combat dual stress from entomopathogens and herbicides mediated by associated microbiota | Yuxin Zhang, Handan Xu, Chengjie Tu, Runhua Han, Jing Luo, Letian Xu | Jing Luo, Letian XU | Hubei University, China | Integrative Zoology | 33 | 10.1111/1749-4877.12812 |
| 10 | Biocontrol efficacy of cajeput oil against Anopheles stephensi L. mosquito and its effect on non-target species | Perumal Vivekanandhan, Tahani Awad Alahmadi, Mohammad Javed Ansari, S P Subala | Perumal Vivekanandhan | Saveetha University, India | Frontiers in Physiology | 30 | 10.3389/fphys.2024.1357411 |
| 11 | Area-wide survey and monitoring of insecticide resistance in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), from 2020 to 2023 in China | Wen-Nan Ye, Yu Li, Yan-Chao Zhang, Zhao-Yu Liu, Xin-Yu Song, Xin-Guo Pei, Shun-Fan Wu, Cong-Fen Gao | Cong‐Fen Gao | Nanjing Agricultural University, China | Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology | 29 | 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.106173 |
| 12 | Toxicity, biochemical and molecular docking studies of Acacia nilotica L., essential oils against insect pests | Perumal Vivekanandhan, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Mohammad Javed Ansari | Perumal Vivekanandhan | Saveetha University, India | Toxicon | 29 | 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107737 |
| 13 | Imidacloprid affects human cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress | Fenghua Wei, Fei Cheng, Huizhen Li, Jing You | Jing You | Jiaying University, China | The Science of The Total Environment | 26 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175422 |
| 14 | Monitoring and Detection of Insecticide Resistance in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Evidence for Field-Evolved Resistance in Egypt | Moataz A M Moustafa, Nourhan A El-Said, Nawal AbdulAziz Alfuhaid, Fatma M A Abo-Elinin, Radwa M B Mohamed, Ahmed A A Aioub | Ahmed A. A. Aioub | Cairo University, Egypt | Insects | 25 | 10.3390/insects15090705 |
| 15 | Biocontrol effects of chemical molecules derived from Beauveria bassiana against larvae of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) | Perumal Vivekanandhan, Kannan Swathy, Tahani Awad Alahmadi, Mohammad Javed Ansari | Perumal Vivekanandhan | Saveetha University, India | Frontiers in Microbiology | 24 | 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1336334 |
| 16 | UDP-glycosyltransferases act as key determinants of host plant range in generalist and specialist <i>Spodoptera</i> species | Huidong Wang, Jing Song, Benjamin J Hunt, Kairan Zuo, Huiru Zhou, Angela Hayward, Bingbing Li, Yajuan Xiao, Xing Geng, Chris Bass, Shutang Zhou | Huidong Wang, Jing Song, Chris Bass, Shutang Zhou | Henan University, China | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | 24 | 10.1073/pnas.2402045121 |
| 17 | Synthesis of paeonol hydrazone derivatives and their anti‐oomycete, anti‐fungal, and nematicidal activities | Mei Hu, Xiaolong Guo, Yuee Tian, Yan Li, Yibo Liu, Xiaobo Huang, Genqiang Chen, Zhiping Che | Yuee Tian, Zhiping Che | Henan University of Science and Technology, China | Pest Management Science | 23 | 10.1002/ps.8306 |
| 18 | Field evaluation of a volatile pyrethroid spatial repellent and etofenprox treated clothing for outdoor protection against forest malaria vectors in Cambodia | Élodie A Vajda, Amanda Ross, Dyna Doum, Emma L Fairbanks, Nakul Chitnis, Jeffrey Hii, Sarah J Moore, Jason H Richardson, Michael Macdonald, Siv Sovannaroth, Pen Kimheng, David J McIver, Allison Tatarsky, Neil F Lobo | Élodie A. Vajda | University of California, San Francisco, United States | Scientific Reports | 23 | 10.1038/s41598-024-67470-3 |
| 19 | Study on the virulence of <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> against <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J. E. Smith, 1797) | Vivekanandhan Perumal, Swathy Kannan, Lucy Alford, Sarayut Pittarate, Patcharin Krutmuang | Perumal Vivekanandhan, Patcharin Krutmuang | Chiang Mai University, Thailand | Journal of Basic Microbiology | 22 | 10.1002/jobm.202300599 |
| 20 | Circumscription of the Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering, 1905) species complex (Hymenoptera, Figitidae), and the description of two new species parasitizing the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931 (Diptera, Drosophilidae) | Jeffrey Sosa‐Calvo, Mattias Forshage, Matthew L. Buffington | Matthew L. Buffington | Smithsonian NMNH, United States | Journal of Hymenoptera Research | 22 | 10.3897/jhr.97.118567 |

## Topic trends

### What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The 2024 publication cohort in insect pest control strategies demonstrates a decisive research pivot toward bio-based intervention methods and structural biochemical mechanisms to counteract rising synthetic pesticide resistance. Bio-derived active compounds lead the field, with essential oils emerging as the most dominant theme—featured in 18% of ranked papers—complemented by secondary metabolites and botanical biopesticides. This emphasis on natural products reflects urgent agricultural and public health demands for eco-friendly, non-toxic pest management solutions.

Mechanistically, modern pest control studies heavily integrate computational and molecular approaches. Molecular docking has become a cornerstone methodology (appearing in 14% of top studies) to screen plant-derived phytochemicals against specific insect enzymatic targets. Concurrently, investigating insecticide resistance mechanisms remains paramount (16% of papers), with significant attention focused on detoxification enzyme pathways such as cytochrome P450s and glutathione S-transferases that drive metabolic resistance in major agricultural pests like Spodoptera frugiperda and disease vectors like Aedes aegypti. Furthermore, biological control strategies utilizing entomopathogenic fungi alongside gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for chemical profiling underscore an integrated paradigm combining ecological bio-agents with precision analytical chemistry.

*Leading research themes*

### How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 and Class of 2026 cohorts reveals a distinct transition from descriptive lethal concentration assays toward dynamic mode-of-action studies and functional biological interventions. The most substantial gains occurred in biological control and eco-friendly delivery mechanisms, with biological control applications, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, and fumigation toxicity seeing dramatic surges as novel non-synthetic control modalities. Applied storage preservation research also surged, reflected in emerging interest around active packaging incorporating botanical bio-actives to prevent post-harvest infestation.

In contrast, classical toxicology metrics and broad screening assays experienced noticeable relative declines. Standard median lethal concentration assays (LC50) fell from 16% to 8% of top publications, while general analytical profiling via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) dropped from 16% to 10%. Additionally, direct studies focusing primarily on Aedes aegypti (declining from 16% to 6%) and individual target genes like cytochrome P450 gave way to broader systemic investigations of detoxification enzyme networks (which doubled from 4% to 8%) and integrated vector control frameworks. Overall, the literature is shifting away from simple mortality reporting toward mechanistic bio-pesticide formulations and oxidative stress mechanisms in pest populations.

*How topics shifted year over year*

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Insect Pest Control Strategies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/insect-pest-control-strategies/2026. Accessed 2026-07-22.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
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