A method was developed for the detection of pymetrozine (PYM) using β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) as a probe. The interaction between PYM and β-LG was studied by fluorescence spectra, circular dichroism spectra (CD), synchronous fluorescence spectra, ultraviolet visible spectra (UV–vis), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and molecular docking. The fluorescence quenching type between PYM and β-LG was demonstrated to be static by Stern-Volmer analysis and time-resolved fluorescence. The binding constant (Ka) was 2.95 × 104 L mol−1 at 293 K. The electrostatic attraction was confirmed to be the primary binding force by Ross theory, and the binding distance was 2.02 nm by fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) theory. Based on the interaction between β-LG and PYM, a fluorescence detection method for PYM was established. Under optimal experimental conditions, the standard equations were established in the range of 0.43 – 10.68 μg mL−1. The limit of detection (LOD) for PYM was 0.03 μg mL−1. The method was successfully applied to apple and pear fruit samples. Recoveries of PYM in these samples were 97.44 % – 102.29 %, the relative standard deviation (RSD) of these samples were 0.24 % – 0.88 % (n = 3).