Embodiments of the present invention provide compositions for controlling a target pest including a first agent and a second agent comprising a pest control product or a signal cascade modulator, wherein the first agent and the second agent act synergistically to control the target pest. The first agent can be capable of interacting with a receptor in the target pest. The pest control product can have a first activity against the target pest when applied without the active agent and the compositions can have a second activity against the target pest; and the second activity can be greater than the first activity. Embodiments of the invention can include compositions that modulate the signal cascade initiated by the binding of ligands to, for example, cell surface receptors. Methods of screening such compositions are also disclosed.