Insecticide Resistance Is Futile: These Products Will Lead the Way in Insect Control in 2025

“Life finds a way” is not just a line from a well-loved sci-fi thriller. For farmers, the “Jurassic Park” quote signifies how insect pest populations experience tolerance against insecticides.

Companies interviewed by CropLife^® magazine offer a suite of products with diverse chemical classes and innovative formulas that partner with integrated pest management plans designed to reduce resistance, reduce insecticide reliance, and encourage sustainability.

According to Kyle Albregts, Corteva Agriscience Product Manager, in recent years, the company saw a significant increase in aphid infestations across Midwest soybean crops, worsened by development of pyrethroid immunity among the insects.

With two modes of action, Ridgeback controls yield-robbing soybean aphids along with Japanese beetles, and spider mites. By targeting pests through contact and ingestion, the chemistry stops them from feeding within hours of application, he notes.

Two additional Corteva products are playing roles for farmers struggling against pest infestations: Intrepid Edge is a foundational chemistry for managing populations of soybean loopers, leafrollers, and armyworms — as the marketplace’s only IRAC Group 5 insecticide, Intrepid Edge also provides an alternative mode of action from pyrethroids and diamides, allowing users to minimize resistance development.

Transform WG delivers targeted insect control in crops such as soybean, cereal grains, cotton, and vegetables. Featuring Isoclast active as a leading ingredient, Transform controls sap-feeding invaders with translaminar activity, reaching pests beyond direct spray contact. Rotating products helps ensure these debilitating infestations never take root, says Albregts.

“With our portfolio, we see great control with Intrepid Edge on soybean acres, and Transform WG on cotton acres,” Albregts says. “Rotating away from certain IRAC groups that farmers used previously allows these products to be utilized longer-term, and give growers more tools for their acres.”

Born to Protect Corn

AMVAC positions itself as a leading corn soil insecticide partner, aiming to combat corn rootworm damage that resulted in a 519,531 bushel loss in 2023, as reported by the multi-state Corn Protection Network.

Rootworm pressures can cause severe damage to corn plants, making them susceptible to stunted growth and significantly reduced yields. For the 2025 season and beyond, AMVAC is offering Index, a liquid at-plant insecticide providing in-furrow control for rootworms as well as persistent seed-attacking insects.

According to AMVAC Marketing Manager Wen Carter, Index out-performs bifenthrin-only based solutions in combating attackers like the ever-present rootworm. For soil applications, corn growers can rely on Aztec, a broad-spectrum insecticide with dual modes of action that’s also compatible with corn herbicides.

“If you’re a granular-applied grower, then Aztec is a great option,” says Carter. “But if you like the ease of liquid, then Index is an option as well. Growers who are thinking about managing pest resistance have two modes of action (with these products). If they don’t have resistance, but want to delay it as long as possible, utilizing an insecticide with multiple modes of action is a great start.”

BioWake Prime is another uniquely formulated bulwark against rootworm feeding and damage, Carter adds. Microbes in this biological insecticide colonize corn plants, activating natural defense mechanisms that inhibit larval development.

Stopping a Pesky Pest

In recent years, corn rootworm populations have evolved resistance to multiple Bt toxins. As such, BASF is focused on an infestation problem that causes up to $2 billion in corn yield loss in the U.S. alone.

“Rootworms are defying crop rotations, insecticides and Bt traits,” says BASF Technical Manager Josh Putman. “In some cases, we’re seeing a 50 to 100 bushel-per-acre loss.”

BASF released its Nurizma insecticide last year for corn farmers seeking confidence in rootworm control. Nurizma is powered by broflanilide, the first Group 30 active ingredient registered and sold as an in-furrow insect stopper, says Putman.

The novel ai defends against common below-ground corn pests, — rootworms, wireworms, white grubs, and seed corn maggots. While effective in all production systems, Nurizma is especially ideal for continuous corn crops. No cross-resistance with existing modes of action is a bonus feature.

A two-year study conducted by a third-party partner demonstrated a yield increase of 15 bushels per acre for crops treated with Nurizma compared to untreated controls. Putman says the new year will be spent positioning Nurizma across the farming landscape.

Looking for Value

In 2025, FMC will continue to champion Ethos Elite LFR, an insecticide/biofungicide mix that combines bifenthrin — a trusted pyrethroid insecticide — with two proprietary biologicals. The result is broad-spectrum control against a wide range of early-season diseases and soilborne pests, notes Neil Young, Insecticide and Biological Portfolio Manager at FMC.

The at-plant premix, compatible with a range of tank-mix partners, provides successful control of pests during a plant’s early growth stages.

“Ethos protects against early-season diseases like pythium and rhizoctonia root and stem rot,” says Young. “We’ve seen success the last couple of seasons with Steward EC, an IRAC Group 22 insecticide for alfalfa weevil control.”

Growers are wise to utilize Ethos at planting followed by a post-emergence application of Steward in continuous corn systems, Young says.

FMC is also excited about the upcoming launch of Cyazypyr’s dry formulation in the specialty crop market. The current version of this ai is used in established insecticides.

“We’re in a down cycle in row crop agriculture, so growers will continue to look for value in all they do,” Young says. “Working with FMC is not just about the product itself, but what we bring to the operation with our technical service managers, plus knowledgeable retailers who can offer support.

“A product with longer resistance activity means fewer trips across the field, so you’re saving money that way,” Young continues. “You don’t want to be cutting your prosperity, so have a conversation with an FMC rep or retailer.”

No Yield

The war against yield-robbing pests demands constant innovation, a call answered by  with its new PLINAZOLIN technology. This broad-spectrum insecticide is a trademark for isocycloseram, a new mode of action targeted squarely at foliar pests.

With EPA registration pending for 2025, PLINAZOLAIIN would stand as only the second IRAC Group 30 insecticide on the market, says Elijah Meck, Technical Product Lead for Insecticides at Syngenta. The product is effective against a range of pests.

PLINAZOLIN is also a weapon against species with documented resistance to numerous active ingredients — a list comprising the Colorado potato beetle, diamondback moth, and two-spotted spider mites.

“We have submitted for registration in numerous crops and crop groups,” says Meck. “We see a lot of utility with this compound in the crop protection space, as well as seed care and professional solutions.”