This paper reviews the effects of maternal effect genes on the growth and development of insects. Insect maternal effect genes are known to induce the formation of anteroposterior and dorsiventral polarity in embryos, regulate the diapause of eggs, enhance immunity and influence the differentiation and developmental period of progeny. The continuous development and application of CRISPR and other new technologies will expand the scope and depth of research on maternal effect gene functions, which in turn will help develop new technologies to both improve the positive traits of beneficial insects and control agricultural pests.