What Are Neonicotinoids?
The EPA describes neonicotinoids as a group of insecticides used on a wide variety of crops, turf, ornamentals, pets for flea treatment, and other residential and commercial indoor and outdoor uses. The National Pesticide Information Center says one of them, imidacloprid, was made to mimic nicotine, which is naturally found in many plants, including tobacco, and is toxic to insects.
NPIC says imidacloprid disrupts the ability of nerves to send a normal signal, and that it is much more toxic to insects and other invertebrates than to mammals and birds because it binds better to the receptors of insect nerve cells.
Pollinators are the regulatory focus. In January 2020 the EPA released proposed interim decisions for acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam with new measures to reduce potential ecological risks, particularly to pollinators, including label language advising homeowners not to use neonicotinoid products and cancelling spray uses of imidacloprid on residential turf because of health concerns. The EPA says it has also temporarily halted approval of new outdoor neonicotinoid uses until new bee data are submitted and pollinator risk assessments are complete.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe EPA describes neonicotinoids as a group of insecticides used on crops, turf, ornamentals, pets for flea treatment, and other residential and commercial indoor and outdoor uses. US EPA ↗
- Regulatory filingIn January 2020 the EPA released proposed interim decisions for acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam with new measures to reduce potential ecological risks, particularly to pollinators. US EPA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA's 2020 proposals included label language advising homeowners not to use neonicotinoid products and cancelling spray uses of imidacloprid on residential turf due to health concerns. US EPA ↗
- Government sourceThe National Pesticide Information Center says imidacloprid was made to mimic nicotine, which is naturally found in many plants, including tobacco, and is toxic to insects. National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University ↗
- Government sourceNPIC says imidacloprid disrupts nerve signaling and is much more toxic to insects and other invertebrates than to mammals and birds because it binds better to insect nerve cell receptors. National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA says it temporarily halted approval of new outdoor neonicotinoid pesticide uses until new bee data are submitted and pollinator risk assessments are complete. US EPA ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.