Insect populations embark on long-distance migrations to avoid adverse environmental conditions and obtain suitable conditions for reproduction. The East Asian monsoon climate is a major driver of pest migration, which poses serious challenges for food production and security in China. Systematic studies conducted since 2003 on Beihuang Island (38º24′N; 120º55′E) in the center of the Bohai Strait, a key migration route for insects migrating from Northern China and further south into Northeastern China, have obtained data on the species composition, population structure and dynamics, physiological and biochemical properties and seasonal migration frequency, of migratory insects. The results reveal that up to 120 species from 9 orders and 36 families migrate across the Bohai Strait, the most abundant being the Noctuidae, especially, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Mythimna separate (Walker). Most migratory insects captured in spring and early summer are sexually mature and mated, which is typical of the late migratory stage, whereas later cohorts are immature and have a higher proportion of unmated individuals, which is typical of the early migratory stage. Analysis of migration routes indicate that migratory patterns can be divided into 3 types: short, medium and long, distance migration. Examples of short distance migrants are Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) and Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) which typically travel 200 km in a single night. Examples of medium distance migrants areH. armigera and Athetis lepigone (Möschler) which typically travel less than 500 km within 1-2 nights. Examples of long-distance migrants are Agrotis ipsilon (L.) (Hufnagel) and Mythimna separate (Walker) which typically travel at least 500 km over several nights. Based on these biological properties and migration patterns, a control strategy focused on the migratory behavior of adult insect pests is suggested.