| Main mode of Action Group
Primary Site of Action |
Chemical sub-group of Exemplifying Active Constituent | Active Constituents | |
| 1*
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors Nerve action |
1A
Carbamates* |
Bendiocarb
Carbaryl Carbofuran Carbosulfan Methiocarb |
Methomyl
Oxamyl Pirimicarb Propoxur Thiodicarb |
| 1B
Organophosphates* |
Acephate
Azamethiphos Cadusafos Chlorfenvinphos Chlorpyrifos Chlorpyrifos-methyl Diazinon Dichlorvos Dimethoate Ethion Fenamiphos Fenitrothion Fenthion |
Malathion
Mevinphos Omethoate Phorate Phosmet Pirimiphos-methyl Profenofos Prothiofos Temephos Terbufos Trichlorfon |
|
| 2
GABA-gated chloride channel blockers Nerve action |
2A
Cyclodiene organochlorines |
No registered active constituents. | |
| 2B
Phenylpyrazoles (Fiproles) |
Fipronil | ||
| 3
Sodium channel modulators Nerve action |
3A
Pyrethroids Pyrethrins |
Allethrin
Alpha-cypermethrin Beta-cyfluthrin Bifenthrin Bioallethrin Bioresmethrin Cyfluthrin Cypermethrin Cyphenothrin Deltamethrin Esbiothrin Esfenvalerate Fenvalerate |
Flumethrin
Gamma-cyhalothrin Imiprothrin Lambda-cyhalothrin Permethrin Prallethrin Pyrethrins Tau-fluvalinate Tetramethrin Transfluthrin Zeta-cypermethrin |
| 3B
|
|||
| 4
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Nerve action |
4A
Neonicotinoids |
Acetamiprid
Clothianidin Dinotefuran |
Imidacloprid
Thiacloprid Thiamethoxam |
| 4B
Nicotine |
No registered active constituents in Australia. | ||
| 4C
Sulfoximine |
Sulfoxaflor | ||
| 4D
Butenolides |
Flupyradifurone | ||
| 5
Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) allosteric modulators – Site I Nerve action |
Spinosyns | Spinosad
Spinetoram |
|
| 6
Glutamate-gated Chloride (GluCl) channel allosteric modulators Nerve action |
Avermectins
Milbemycins |
Abamectin
Emamectin benzoate Milbemectin |
|
| 7
Juvenile hormone mimics Growth regulation |
7A
Juvenile hormone analogues |
Methoprene | |
| 7B
Fenoxycarb |
Fenoxycarb | ||
| 7C
Pyriproxyfen |
Pyriproxyfen | ||
| 8
Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors |
8A
Alkyl halides |
Methyl bromide | |
| 8B
Chloropicrin |
Chloropicrin | ||
| 8C
Fluorides |
Sulfuryl fluoride | ||
| 9
Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators Nerve action |
9B
Pyridine azomethine derivatives |
Pymetrozine | |
| 9D
Pyropenes |
Afidopyropen | ||
| 10
Mite growth inhibitors affecting CHS1 Growth regulation |
10A
Clofentezine Hexythiazox |
Clofentezine Hexythiazox |
|
| 10B
Etoxazole |
Etoxazole | ||
| 11
Microbial disrupters of insect midgut membranes (includes transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins) |
11A
Bacillus thuringiensis and the insecticidal proteins they produce |
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis
B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis B. thuringiensis crop proteins: Cry1Ac Cry2Ab Cry1F Vip3A |
|
| 11B
Bacillus sphaericus and the insecticidal proteins they produce |
Bacillus sphaericus | ||
| 12
Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase Energy metabolism |
12A
Diafenthiuron |
Diafenthiuron | |
| 12B
Organotin miticides |
Fenbutatin oxide | ||
| 12C
Propargite |
Propargite | ||
| 12D
Tetradifon |
Tetradifon | ||
| 13
Uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient Energy metabolism |
Pyrroles | Chlorfenapyr | |
| 14
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers Nerve action |
Nereistoxin analogues | No registered active constituents in Australia. | |
| 15
Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis affecting CHS1 Growth regulation |
Benzoylureas | Bistrifluron
Chlorfluazuron Diflubenzuron Flufenoxuron |
Hexaflumuron
Lufenuron Novaluron Triflumuron |
| 16
Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1 Growth regulation |
Buprofezin | Buprofezin | |
| 17
Moulting disrupter, Dipteran Growth regulation |
Cyromazine | Cyromazine | |
| 18
Ecdysone receptor agonists Growth regulation |
Diacylhydrazines | Methoxyfenozide
Tebufenozide |
|
| 19
Octopamine receptor agonists Nerve action |
Amitraz | Amitraz | |
| 20
Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors Qo site Energy metabolism |
20A
Hydramethylnon |
Hydramethylnon | |
| 20B
Acequinocyl |
Acequinocyl | ||
| 20C | No registered active constituents in Australia. | ||
| 20D
Bifenazate |
Bifenazate | ||
| 21
Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors Energy metabolism |
21A
METI acaricides and insecticides |
Fenpyroximate
Pyridaben |
Tebufenpyrad |
| 21B
Rotenone |
Rotenone (Derris) | ||
| 22
Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers Nerve action |
22A
Oxadiazines |
Indoxacarb | |
| 22B
Semicarbazones |
Metaflumizone | ||
| 23
Inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase Lipid synthesis, growth regulation |
Tetronic and
Tetramic acid derivatives |
Spirotetramat
Spiromesifen |
|
| 24
Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors Energy metabolism |
24A
Phosphides |
Phosphine
Aluminium phosphide Magnesium phosphide |
|
| 24B
Cyanides |
No registered active constituents in Australia. | ||
| 25
Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors Energy metabolism |
25A
Beta-ketonitrile derivatives |
Cyflumetofen | |
| 25B
Carboxanilides |
No registered active constituents in Australia. | ||
| 28
Ryanodine receptor modulators Nerve and muscle action |
Diamides | Chlorantraniliprole
Cyantraniliprole Cyclaniliprole |
Flubendiamide
Tetraniliprole |
| 29
Chordotonal organ nicotinamidase inhibitors Nerve action |
Flonicamid | Flonicamid | |
| 30
GABA-gated chloride channel allosteric modulators Nerve action |
Meta-diamides
Isoxazolines |
Broflanilide
Isocycloseram |
|
| 31
Baculoviruses Host-specific occluded pathogenic viruses (Midgut epithelial columnar cell membrane target site – undefined) |
Granuloviruses (GVs) | Cydia pomonella granulosis virus strain V22 | |
| Nucleopolyhedroviruses
(NPVs) |
Polyhedral occlusion bodies of the NPV of Helicoverpa zea or H. armigera | ||
| 32
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) allosteric modulators – Site II Nerve action |
GS-omega/kappa HXTX-Hv1a peptide | No registered active constituents in Australia. | |
| 33
Calcium-activated potassium channel (KCA2) modulators Nerve action |
Acynonapyr | No registered active constituents in Australia. | |
| 34
Mitochondrial Complex III transport inhibitors – Qi site Energy metabolism |
Flometoquin | No registered active constituents in Australia. | |
| 36
Chordotonal organ modulators – undefined target site Nerve action |
Pyridazine pyrazolecarboxamides | Dimpropyridaz | |
| UN
Compounds of unknown or uncertain mode of action (MoA)² |
Azadirachtin | Azadirachtin | |
| Clitoria ternatea extract | Clitoria ternatea extract | ||
| Dicofol | Dicofol | ||
| Lime sulphur | Lime sulphur | ||
| Sulphur | Sulphur | ||
| UNE
(Botanical essence including extracts and unrefined oils) |
Garlic extract and garlic oil
Botanical oils |
Garlic extract and garlic oil
Orange oil Tea tree oil Eucalyptus oil Emulsifiable botanical oil |
|
| UNF
Fungal agents of unknown or uncertain mode of action (MoA) (Target protein responsible for biological activity is unknown, or uncharacterized) |
Beauveria bassiana strains | ||
| UNM
Non-specific mechanical and physical disruptors |
Diatomaceous earth
Calcined kaolin Mineral oil Paraffinic oils Petroleum oil |
||
*All members of the class may not be cross resistant.
²A compound with an unknown or controversial mode of action or an unknown mode of toxicity will be held in Group UN until evidence becomes available to enable that compound to be assigned to a more appropriate mode of action group.
URL: https://croplife.org.au/resources/programs/resistance-management/insecticide-mode-of-action-classification-for-insecticides/
Content last updated: July 22, 2026
CropLife Australia’s Resistance Management Strategies provide a guide for crop protection product rotation through product groups. The strategies are a useful tool that supports farmers’ adoption of resistance management. All crop protection products must be handled and applied strictly as specified on the product label or APVMA permits.
These Resistance Management Strategies do not replace product labels. They are a guide only and do not endorse particular products, groups of products or cultural methods in terms of their performance. It is important to check with the Australian regulator’s (APVMA) product database for contemporary information on products and active constituents. The database can be sourced through www.apvma.gov.au
The information given in this strategy is provided in good faith and without any liability for loss or damage suffered as a result of its application and use. Advice given in this strategy is valid as at 22 July 2026. All previous versions of this strategy are now invalid.