The concept that an insect species’ genome could be altered in a manner that would result in control of that species (i.e. autocidal control), or in replacement of a pestiferous strain of the species with a more benign genotype was first proposed in the mid-20th century. A major research effort in population genetics and ecology followed, and led to development of a set of classical genetic control approaches that included use of sterile males, conditional lethal genes, translocations, compound chromosomes, and microbe-mediated infertility. Although there have been a number of major successes in application of classical genetic control, research in this area has declined in the past 20 years for technical and societal reasons. Recent advances in molecular biology and transgenesis research have renewed interest in genetically based control methods because these advances may remove some major technical problems that have constrained effective genetic manipulation of pest species. I will discuss population genetic analyses that suggest that transgenic manipulations may enable development of strains that would be 10 to over 100 times more efficient than strains developed by classical methods. Experience from the classical era of genetic control research indicates that the ecology of each target species and the concerns of citizens could have a major impact on the success of any program involving transgenic insects.