Methods of protecting fruit crops from flying insect pests and of repelling flying insects using aromatic amide compounds are disclosed. The methods apply the compounds to various surfaces, such as the fruit crops, the ground or structures adjacent to the fruit crops, or an object, article, human skin or animal. The compounds have the formula RxC6Hy—C(═O)—N(Cy), where RxC6Hy is a substituted phenyl group, each R group is independently C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1-C4 alkyl, (substituted) C6-C10 aryl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C6-C10 aryloxy, halogen, nitro, cyano, cyanate, isocyanate, nitroso, C1-C4 alkylthio, phenylthio, (halogen-substituted) C1-C4 alkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, tolylsulfonyl, amino, mono- or di-C1-C4 alkylamino, diphenylamino, di-C1-C4 alkylamido, formyl, C2-C7 acyl, or C1-C6 alkoxycarbonyl; x is an integer of 1 to 5; x+y=5; Cy is a C2-C8 (substituted) alkadiyl, a C4-C6 (substituted) alkenediyl, or a (substituted) diyl of the formula —(CH2CH2)—O—(CH2CH2)—, —(CH2CH2)—NR′—(CH2CH2)— or —(CH2CH2)—S—(CH2CH2)— that, along with the amide N atom, forms a non-aromatic cyclic group; and R′ is C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1-C4 alkyl, (substituted) C6-C10 aryl, or (substituted) benzyl.