Insecticides Mode of Action

INSECTICIDE MODE OF ACTION TABLE

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

Azinphos methyl

Cadusafos

Chlorfenvinphos

Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos-methyl

Diazinon

Dichlorvos

Dimethoate

Ethion

Fenamiphos

Fenitrothion

Fenthion

Malathion

Methidathion

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.

2 A 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: June 26, 2025

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 26 June 2025. All previous versions of this strategy are now invalid.