The construction of brain atlases can help reveal the neural mechanisms responsible for the regulation of behavior in animals, including insects. Published brain atlases of a few model insect species currently serve as general references, but there are currently no comprehensive atlases for many other species. With the exception of a small number of easily recognized neuropils (such as the optic lobe, antennal lobe and mushroom body), many brain regions remain uncharacterized due to their structural complexity. With the development of confocal microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction technology, more detailed information on the whole brain can be obtained and construction of three-dimensional visualization maps, an important platform for the study of brain function, has become possible. The establishment of a systematic nomenclature for the whole brain of Drosophila melanogaster has greatly accelerated the construction of atlases of insect brain neuropils. This paper reviews recent information on the structural composition of the insect brain and the technology used to construct brain atlases, proposes solutions to several key problems that must be addressed during this process, and provides a reference for promoting the construction of brain atlases of Chinese insects.