Summary: Screening and analysis of the scientific literature up to 31 December 2023 showed: (i) Gene drives were developed or proposed in 43 insect species1. Additionally, gene drives were proposed for 5 general taxonomic groups of insects: (ii) Of these 48 insect species or groups the majority are agricultural pests, 28 in total, while 17 are vectors of human disease, in particular malaria. The agricultural pests include 6 livestock pests or livestock disease vectors, which partially overlap with human disease vectors; (iii) The majority of gene drive proposals were based on eradication/suppression approaches. Only a very few projects were aiming to modify characteristics of insects in the wild; (iv) By the end of 2023 no project was close to producing a usable and proven ‘product’. But some were closer to potential field trials, pending on regulation, risk assessment and further (technical) developments; (v) CRISPR-based homing gene drives were shown to function with reasonable efficiency in several members of the order Diptera (true flies), especially within the mosquito genera Anopheles and Aedes, and within the genus Drosophila. However, it is notable that within another member of the Diptera, the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, a homing gene drive was only shown to operate at very low efficiency; and (vi) It is unclear how applicable homing CRISPR gene drives will be in insects outside of the Diptera. In nondipteran insects there was only one example of a such a gene drive showing any level of functionality: a very low efficiency system constructed in the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). As of 1 June 2026 there have been few significant changes since the end of 2023. The majority of newly reported gene drive systems have been in Anopheles mosquitoes, with two also developed in Aedes mosquitoes. Gene drive development is also continuing in fruit fly targets: two more systems have been reported targeting spotted winged drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) and a gene drive has now been developed in the mediterranean fruit fly (Certatitis capitata).