Environmental Risks and Challenges Associated with Neonicotinoid Insecticides

An overview of the environmental risks posed by neonicotinoid insecticides

1. Neonicotinoids are now the most widely used insecticides in the world. They act systemically, travelling through plant tissues and protecting all parts of the crop, and are widely applied as seed dressings. As neurotoxins with high toxicity to most arthropods, they provide effective pest control and have numerous uses in arable farming and horticulture. 2. However, the prophylactic use of br...

Risks of neonicotinoid insecticides to honeybees

The European honeybee, Apis mellifera, is an important pollinator of agricultural crops. Since 2006, when unexpectedly high colony losses were first reported, articles have proliferated in the popular press suggesting a range of possible causes and raising alarm over the general decline of bees. Suggested causes include pesticides, genetically modified crops, habitat fragmentation, and introduc...

Neonicotinoid insecticides and bees

Neonicotinoid insecticides induce salicylate-associated plant defense responses.

Neonicotinoid insecticides control crop pests based on their action as agonists at the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, which accepts chloropyridinyl- and chlorothiazolyl-analogs almost equally well. In some cases, these compounds have also been reported to enhance plant vigor and (a)biotic stress tolerance, independent of their insecticidal function. However, this mode of action has no...

The Neonicotinoid Insecticides—insect Management with Seed Treatments in Corn

Corn producers battle a variety of soil dwelling insect pests. Seedcorn maggots, wireworms, white grubs and several species of cutworms can attack either the seed or seedling plants and reduce the plant stand. Corn rootworm larvae feed on corn roots during midsummer and can significantly reduce the uptake of moisture and nutrients. Extensive feeding by corn rootworm larvae can reduce the roots ...