Journal profile · Entomology
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
ISSN 0965-1748 · eISSN 1879-0240 · Elsevier Science B.V. · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1992
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: CAS Zone 1 · Agricultural & Forestry Sciences (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 4.38; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,210; median 97 days to acceptance (102 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 50%; 156 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is published by Elsevier Science B.V. and is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research, Insect Resistance and Genetics and Insect and Pesticide Research, together about 39.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Insect Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
This international journal publishes original contributions and mini-reviews in the fields of insect biochemistry and insect molecular biology. Main areas of interest are neurochemistry, hormone and pheromone biochemistry, enzymes and metabolism, hormone action and gene regulation, gene characterization and structure, pharmacology, immunology and cell and tissue culture. Papers on the biochemistry and molecular biology of other groups of arthropods are published if of general interest to the readership. Technique papers will be considered for publication if they significantly advance the field of insect biochemistry and molecular biology in the opinion of the Editors and Editorial Board.Requirements for RNAi Experiments in Lepidopteran InsectsGiven the growing concerns regarding the reproducibility of RNA interference (RNAi) experiments in lepidopteran species, the Editorial Board has established the following requirements to guide the evaluation of manuscripts employing RNAi in these insects. Authors are asked to review these criteria carefully and ensure that their submissions meet the standards necessary for consideration in this journal.1. Use of alternative and complementary methods: Whenever appropriate and feasible, authors are encouraged to consider established genetic approaches such as CRISPR/Cas‑mediated gene knockout prior to relying on RNA interference (RNAi). When RNAi is employed, results should be supported by complementary approaches, including pharmacological inhibition or other independent validation methods.2. Minimization of off‑target effects: To reduce the possibility of off‑target silencing, at least two non‑overlapping dsRNA sequences targeting the same gene must be tested separately.3. Rigorous experimental controls: RNAi experiments must include a non-treatment (or vehicle) control, as well as multiple dsRNA treatment controls (such as dsRNA against unrelated genes like GFP, as well as dsRNA against other endogenous genes, such as those in the same gene family) to demonstrate specificity of the observed phenotypes.4. Demonstration of specific and significant knockdown: Authors must provide quantitative evidence (e.g., qRT‑PCR or other validated quantitative assays) showing that expression of the target gene is significantly reduced by the specific dsRNA treatments, but not by control dsRNAs. A minimum of three independent biological replicates is required for each treatment. Whenever possible, knockdown should also be confirmed by an independent method, such as quantification of the encoded protein.5. Consideration of biological and technical variability: The editorial board recognizes that factors such as dsRNA delivery method, developmental stage, and tissue accessibility can strongly influence RNAi outcomes. Manuscripts will therefore be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, taking these experimental constraints into account.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Entomology
Editorial board by country: 10 in mainland China (about 16%); most named United States 26, Mainland China 10, Germany 5, Japan 3, United Kingdom 2 (61 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchNeuroscience16.6%
- Insect Resistance and GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology14.4%
- Insect and Pesticide ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences8.8%
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and BehaviorBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.5%
- Invertebrate Immune Response MechanismsImmunology and Microbiology7.3%
- Insect Utilization and EffectsAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.5%
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influencesAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.2%
- Insect-Plant Interactions and ControlAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Entomology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Entomology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Entomology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 4.38LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 6.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.96LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.4LetPub ·
- h-index
- 102LetPub ·
- h-index
- 166OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,335OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.01OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 20.59%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 142LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,675 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 141 | 33 | 66 |
| 2025 | 156 | 46 | 447 |
| 2024 | 104 | 47 | 695 |
| 2023 | 83 | 41 | 1,221 |
| 2022 | 114 | 47 | 1,683 |
| 2021 | 106 | 28 | 2,187 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
97 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 68 days – 135 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 2 days (102 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 99 days
- Sample
- 102 articles with submission and acceptance dates (320 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 50%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 31 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 91 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,210 / EUR 3,940 / GBP 3,370 / JPY 522,170 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,170 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteArticle types accepted8
- original researchOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- original research articleOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- original research articlesOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- reviewOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- review articleOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles will deal with tightly defined topics, which are highly novel, and of particular interest to the readership of the Journal. Suggested length of …Length not stated
- short communicationOriginal Research Articles should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a prelimi…Length not stated
- short communicationsShort Communications. Manuscripts for Short Communications of high potential significance should be 1500 or fewer words and contain no more than two illustratio…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process; submissions initially assessed by editors; if suitable, sent to a minimum of two reviewers; decision made by editors. Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy; sharing preprints will not count as prior publication. Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science B.V.
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1992
- ISSN
- 0965-1748
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-0240
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
What CAS zone is Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Entomology / Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.38; CiteScore 6.4, h-index 166.
How long does peer review take at Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology?
Based on the dates recorded on 102 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 97 days (interquartile range 68–135 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 50%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
Where are the editorial board members of Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology based?
Of the 61 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 10 (about 16%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (26), Mainland China (10) and Germany (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,210.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .