What are Neonicotinoids?
Neonicotinoids are a widely used group of insecticides. They are a form of nerve toxin which affects the nerve synapse of invertebrates. These chemicals are completely harmless to mammals and birds but lethal to pests making them the ideal pesticide. Sadly, not only do these chemicals harm the bad insects, but they also are lethal to our pollinators. They are thought to be the main cause of colony collapse disorder. There are about different forms of neonicotinoids but only 5 of them have been banned by Health Canada. Neonicotinoids are applied to seeds and as the plant grows, these chemicals are absorbed by root systems and cover all the cells in a plant. If an insect, comes into contact with these chemicals, they run the risk of dying or being poisoned. After being applied, neonicotinoids can stay in the ground for months or even years! Also, as neonicotinoids are metabolised by plants, chemicals even more dangerous than neonicotinoids can be produced. For bees in general, it impacts their ability to forage, locate the hive and remember the location of flowers. The following graphic will show the molecular structure of each of these chemicals.
