This review provides a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in insects, highlighting their discovery, classification, common properties, and mechanisms of action. AMPs are crucial components of the innate immune system in insects, offering robust defense against a broad spectrum of pathogens. The review covers the diversity and distribution of AMPs across various insect species, emphasizing their structural variations, antimicrobial activities, and evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetic analysis reveals four major groups of AMPs based on their structural and functional similarities. The regulatory pathways of AMP production, including the Toll, IMD, and JAK-STAT pathways, as well as additional pathways linked to Nitric Oxide, insulin-like signaling, and hormones, are discussed. The review also explores the potential applications of insect AMPs in food safety, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, noting their advantages over traditional preservatives and antibiotics. Finally, the authors discuss future perspectives and challenges in the field, including the need for further research on synergistic effects among AMPs and the development of improved biological properties to enhance their industrial applications.This review provides a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in insects, highlighting their discovery, classification, common properties, and mechanisms of action. AMPs are crucial components of the innate immune system in insects, offering robust defense against a broad spectrum of pathogens. The review covers the diversity and distribution of AMPs across various insect species, emphasizing their structural variations, antimicrobial activities, and evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetic analysis reveals four major groups of AMPs based on their structural and functional similarities. The regulatory pathways of AMP production, including the Toll, IMD, and JAK-STAT pathways, as well as additional pathways linked to Nitric Oxide, insulin-like signaling, and hormones, are discussed. The review also explores the potential applications of insect AMPs in food safety, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, noting their advantages over traditional preservatives and antibiotics. Finally, the authors discuss future perspectives and challenges in the field, including the need for further research on synergistic effects among AMPs and the development of improved biological properties to enhance their industrial applications.