Neuropeptides produced in neuro-endocrine system are involved in many vital processes of insects the most numerous group of animals. In last ten years many new neuropeptides have been identified in this group of animals. In many cases they have pleiotropic action and play a crucial role as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and classical hormones. In the present review several families of insect peptidic hormons are characterized, including: AKH/RPCH family, pyrokinins, tachykinins, myosuppressins, peptides of FMRFa/FLRFa family, sulfakinins, peptides involved in development and moulting, allatotropins, allatostatins, diuretic and antidiuretic peptides, peptides of CAP family, perivi-scerokinins, proctolin and CCAP. Additional aspects discussed in the paper concern applications of insect neuropeptides as safety new generation of insecticides and pharmaceutics used in medicine.