Malaria vector control: Can repurposed agricultural insecticides offer solutions to resistance issues?

Insecticide resistance poses a significant threat to the efficacy of current vector control interventions and jeopardizes recent gains in malaria control. Several insecticides developed for agricultural pest control have demonstrated promising efficacy against malaria vectors, particularly Anopheles mosquitoes. This review critically evaluates existing research on the potential repurposing of agricultural insecticides as tools to overcome resistance challenges associated with conventional vector control methods. We synthesize recent evidence highlighting the effectiveness of agricultural insecticides, including neonicotinoids, pyrroles, broflanilide, meta-diamides, growth regulators, ivermectin, methoxyfenozide and halofenozide, against mosquitoes such as Anopheles, Aedes and Culex. These molecules have exhibited substantial insecticidal activity against both adult and larval stages. Some agricultural insecticides identified are already key components of World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended vector control tools, including insecticidal-treated nets, indoor residual sprays, larvicides, and spatial repellents and emanators. Others are active ingredients of non-WHO-endorsed interventions being tested under the laboratory and field, such as insecticide space sprays, endectocides and attractive targeted sugar baits. Compounds affect vector survival and biology and Plasmodium parasite development, thus offering dual-action potential for malaria transmission reduction. This review highlights recent evidence regarding the potential application of agricultural insecticides in malaria vector control, highlighting several promising compounds and active ingredients not yet utlised in vector control tools. The results emphasize the urgent need for novel chemistries in malaria prevention, bridging agricultural and public health insecticide science. Importantly, exploration of additional agricultural pesticides may provide further opportunities for developing robust vector control strategies to mitigate malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.