Abstract: N⁶-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA and non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which is involved in many biological processes by influencing RNA metabolism. Since its discovery in 1974, m⁶A modification has been reported to regulate alternative splicing, translation, nuclear export, localization and stability of RNA and so on at post-transcriptional levels. However, it is a lack about the systematic and comprehensive review on m⁶A methylation modification of insect RNA. In this article, we reviewed the regulatory mechanisms of m⁶A modification elements, the detecting techniques for studying m⁶A modification, and the functions of m⁶A modification in the important biological process of neural development and function, growth and development, phenotypic plasticity, sex determination and stress response in insects. In addition, we analyzed the shortcomings and limitations about the present research and proposed research areas in the future research directions and applications in insects to be further explored. Studying the mechanism and function of insect m⁶A modification can not only contribute to the breeding of economic insects with good economic traits, environmental adaptability and disease resistance, but also provide a scientific basis for plant resistant breeding and effective control of pests and diseases.

Key words: Insect; N⁶-methyladenosine, epigenetic modification, detecting techniques, molecular function