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Open research questions in Insect Pest Control Strategies

127 gap statements mined from Insect Pest Control Strategies papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 848 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The efficacy of the combined SiO2NP and gamma radiation treatment against other stored grain pests beyond T. granarium and whether the optimized 50 kGy dose transfers across different insect species remains to be determined.

    From wheat to wheat: synergistic effect of silica nanoparticles synthesized from wheat straw assisted by gamma irradiation against khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium everts on wheat grain · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for safe, eco-friendly, and effective alternatives to synthetic chemical repellents. The lack of sustainable and plant-based alternatives for mosquito control.

    Integrated phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of Spathodea campanulata bud fluid for eco- friendly mosquito control applications · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the sociotechnical dimensions that shape the insect repellent market.

    PMD Pathway for Alternative Olfactory Mosquito Repellent; From Pharmacy Shelves to Favela Streets: Policy, Retail, and Media in the Politics of Mosquito Repellents in Brazil · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective and safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides for controlling T. citricida. The need to determine an effective concentration of neem seed oil that is relatively safe for non-target organisms.

    Efficacy of neem seed oil formulation (Azadirachta indica) against Toxoptera citricida on Siamese orange (Citrus nobilis) plants · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective control methods for C. maculatus that do not compromise seed viability.

    Phytochemical Screening and the Efficacy of Leaf Extract and Powder of Ageratum conyzoides against Callosobrochus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Stored Cowpea Seeds · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for a control method for C. maculatus that does not compromise seed viability. The lack of effective botanical treatments for controlling C. maculatus.

    Phytochemical Screening and the Efficacy of Leaf Extract and Powder of Ageratum conyzoides against Callosobrochus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Stored Cowpea Seeds · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective alternative control methods. The potential environmental and health impacts of chemical pesticides.

    Laboratory Evaluation of the Efficacy of Wild Thyme Oil (Thymus syriacus Boiss) and Its Nano-Formulations Using Silica Nanoparticles and Polyethylene Glycol Against the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Yet barriers remain, including short-lived efficacy, labour-intensive preparation, lack of standardization, cultural concerns, and policy gaps. One hypothesis is cuticular abrasion leading to desiccation, though microstructural evidence is lacking. Standardization of preparation, dosage, and storage is lacking, leading to inconsistent efficacy.

    Cow Horn Ash as a Grain Protectant: A Comprehensive Review of Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Maize Weevil Management · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to assess farmers' maize storage practices in southwestern Ethiopia. The current storage practices of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are not effective in reducing postharvest losses.

    Postharvest Management Practices of Maize Among Smallholder Farmers in Southwestern Ethiopia · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of standardisation in botanical pesticide formulations and application methods. The limited field validation of botanical pesticides in African maize systems. The need for clearer biosafety evidence and more accessible formulations.

    Botanical Pesticides Against Fall Armyworm in African Maize Systems: A Structured Narrative Review and SWOT Synthesis · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The lack of understanding of the effects of essential oils on acetylcholinesterase and glucosidases. The need for selective, neurotargeting pesticides.

    Inhibition of Insect and Nematode Acetylcholinesterase and Glucosidases by Essential Oils—In Vitro and In Silico Studies · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for eco-friendly approaches for managing stored grains. Traditional methods of pest control have limitations. There is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of natural pesticides.

    ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACHES FOR MANAGING STORED GRAINS: PREVENTION OF SEASONAL INFESTATION OF INSECT PESTS IN STOREHOUSES: A REVIEW · 2026 · DOI

  • The pest has a high reproductive capacity and overlapping generations, making management challenging. The use of semiochemicals is an emerging approach for pest management, but its application remains limited.

    Gender-specific attractants for Conopomorpha sinensis Bradley: development and field evaluation of semi-solid slow-release formulations · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective solutions to the economic pest affecting oil-bearing rose plants. The need for a study on the effectiveness of organic pesticides on the Agrilus cuprescens population.

    Opportunities for Control of the Rose Stem Girdler in Organic Oil-bearing Rose Production · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional insecticides. The lack of effective botanical insecticidal products. The importance of optimizing formulations for stability, sprayability, and insecticidal efficacy.

    FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL SPRAY AS A INSECTICIDES OF ACYRANTHES ASPERA LEAVES EXTRACT · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the impact of conservation systems on plant-insect interactions.

    CULTIVATION SYSTEM AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF ONION LEAVES TO THRIPS · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research may include chemical and structural analyses of leaves to better understand the behavior of thrips. Studies on the impact of conservation systems on other plant-insect interactions could provide further insights.

    CULTIVATION SYSTEM AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF ONION LEAVES TO THRIPS · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective and safe methods for controlling the whitefly.

    Evaluation of the efficacy of some types of plant oil extracts in controlling the whitefly Bemisia tabaci on eggplant in green houses · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on the isolation and characterization of the active constituents, elucidation of their modes of action, assessment of their environmental safety and effects on non-target organisms and validation of their efficacy through field trials.

    Eco-friendly biocontrol of the red palm weevil using the local brown alga Hormophysa cuneiformis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was conducted under laboratory conditions, which may not reflect the complexity of field conditions. The sample size and number of replicates may be limited. The study did not investigate the potential effects of the treatments on non-target organisms.

    Laboratory Evaluation of the Efficacy of Wild Thyme Oil (Thymus syriacus Boiss) and Its Nano-Formulations Using Silica Nanoparticles and Polyethylene Glycol Against the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited field persistence and volatility of essential oils. Phytotoxicity concerns and crop-safety margins for certain botanical pesticides.

    Botanical Pesticides Against Fall Armyworm in African Maize Systems: A Structured Narrative Review and SWOT Synthesis · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited access to clean water in tropical countries, leading to mosquito breeding grounds.

    Computational identification of Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil compounds targeting Aedes aegypti odorant receptors · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on (i) identifying the volatile and non-volatile compounds responsible for the observed behavioral effects, (ii) evaluating the stability and persistence of these extracts under real storage conditions, (iii) assessing sublethal impacts on oviposition behavior and insect physiology, and (iv) exploring their compatibility with other non-chemical control strategies within integrated pest…

    Biological activity of Trachystemon orientalis extracts against Sitophilus oryzae and Oryzaephilus surinamensis · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited amount of biological material available, - Low protein concentration in nematode extracts, - Possible interspecific differences, - Involvement of alternative modes…

    Inhibition of Insect and Nematode Acetylcholinesterase and Glucosidases by Essential Oils—In Vitro and In Silico Studies · 2026 · DOI

  • Further evaluation of the polyherbal spray's effectiveness in field trials. Optimization of the formulation for different environmental conditions. Investigation of the spray's potential for use against other types of pests.

    FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL SPRAY AS A INSECTICIDES OF ACYRANTHES ASPERA LEAVES EXTRACT · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Insect Pest Control Strategies

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The efficacy of the combined SiO2NP and gamma radiation treatment against other stored grain pests beyond T. granarium and whether the optimized 50 kGy dose transfers across different insect species remains to be determined (“From wheat to wheat: synergistic effect of silica nanoparticles synthesized…”, 2026); (2) The lack of sustainable and plant-based alternatives for mosquito control (“Integrated phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of Spathodea…”, 2026); (3) The lack of understanding of the sociotechnical dimensions that shape the insect repellent market (“PMD Pathway for Alternative Olfactory Mosquito Repellent; From Pharmacy Shelves…”, 2026); (4) The lack of effective and safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides for controlling T. citricida (“Efficacy of neem seed oil formulation (Azadirachta indica) against Toxoptera…”, 2026); (5) The lack of effective control methods for C. maculatus that do not compromise seed viability (“Phytochemical Screening and the Efficacy of Leaf Extract and Powder of Ageratum…”, 2026). 127 gap statements have been mined from Insect Pest Control Strategies papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 848 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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