neonicotinoid

Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides chemically related to nicotine. They are systemic compounds used to protect crops from a range of chewing and sucking pests. The class includes several active substances, such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid, acetamiprid, and dinotefuran.

Neonicotinoids act on the nervous system of insects by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, causing excessive nerve stimulation, paralysis, and death. They are generally more toxic to insects than to mammals or birds, in part because of differences in receptor structure and metabolism. In agricultural practice, neonics are often applied as seed coatings, soil drenches, or foliar sprays, and their systemic properties allow the chemical to move within plant tissues, providing protection against pests over an extended period.

The use of neonics has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding non-target organisms such as pollinators. Sublethal exposure can impair foraging, navigation, and reproduction in bees, and residues can persist in soil and leach into water bodies, affecting aquatic invertebrates and other organisms. Because of these risks, regulatory agencies in various regions have restricted or evaluated the use of neonics, with the European Union imposing notable restrictions on outdoor uses of several active substances, and ongoing risk assessments and usage controls in other regions.

In response, researchers and policymakers emphasize integrated pest management, adoption of non-chemical controls where feasible, targeted applications, and alternative insecticides with lower non-target risk. The balance between crop protection benefits and ecological risks remains a central issue in the regulation and use of neonicotinoids.