Genetic control using germ-line transformation is the new trend in the research of insect pest control. It is a species-specific, highly efficient and environmental friendly pest control strategy. Gene promoter, one of the key component for gene expression regulation, is requisite for the construction of high-efficient and stable genetic modified strains for insect population genetic control. In this review, the basic structural characteristics of insect gene promoters are briefly described. The progress and application of different type promoters such as constitutive promoter, sex- and tissue-specific promoter, age-specific promoter and inducible promoter, are also introduced. Finally, the future prospect of different types of promoters used in insect population genetic control is disccused.