Imidacloprid

Imidacloprid is a type of chemical called an insecticide that is used to kill insects. It belongs to a group of chemicals known as neonicotinoids and works by affecting the central nervous system of insects. It stops insects from moving by blocking certain pathways in their nerves.

It is made by a company called Bayer CropScience, which is part of Bayer AG. Imidacloprid can be used in many different ways, such as putting it in the soil, spraying it on plants, or treating seeds with it. It is widely used on farms to protect crops, but it can also be used in gardens, on pets to control fleas, and to protect trees and wood.

However, there are concerns about imidacloprid’s effect on bees and other wildlife. In 2018, experts in the European Food Safety Authority said that using this kind of pesticide could harm wild and honeybees. In 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency found that imidacloprid might harm many plants and animals that are protected by law. Because of these worries, many places, including all of the European Union, have stopped allowing imidacloprid to be used outside. But it is still used in some other countries around the world.

Use

Imidacloprid is one of the most used insecticides in the world. It helps protect plants, trees, homes, animals, and gardens from many harmful insects.

It is often used to treat seeds, control pests on farms, protect trees from insects, keep homes safe from termites and ants, and treat pets for fleas. When put on plants, imidacloprid is taken up by the roots and moves through the plant to help protect it.

History

Imidacloprid was first patented in the United States on January 21, 1986. The patent was granted on May 3, 1988. A company in Japan filed for this patent.

In 1992, a company in the United States asked to use imidacloprid on grass and plants. In 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allowed this use.

In 2005, special permission was given for using imidacloprid on bananas in Hawaii and on sunflowers in Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

Registrations

Imidacloprid is sold under different names, such as Confidor and Marathon.

Biochemistry

Imidacloprid is a type of insecticide that works inside plants. It is part of a group called neonicotinoids and changes how insects' nerves send signals. This stops insects from working normally.

Because it works from the inside, imidacloprid moves through the plant from the soil to its leaves, fruits, flowers, and even the sweet part that bees like. It can be used in very small amounts, which makes it effective while using less than older insecticides.

Toxicology

Imidacloprid is seen as moderately harmful if eaten by animals and less harmful if it touches their skin, according to health groups. It is not likely to cause cancer and does not change genes in tests.

In animals, large amounts taken in at once can cause temporary effects like feeling dizzy or tired, and might affect growth. Over time, smaller amounts can affect the liver and weight. In humans, eating a lot might cause nausea, sweating, sleepiness, and confusion.

Imidacloprid can be harmful to bees, affecting their ability to find food and learn. It is also harmful to birds and water creatures, though less so to some fish. It can change how some plants protect themselves and may make rice plants more vulnerable to pests.

Environmental fate

Imidacloprid breaks down in water when there is light, turning into other substances. Without light, it stays in water for a long time. It also stays in soil for years, especially without light. Sometimes it can get into groundwater, but usually at levels that are not harmful to people.

Because it can dissolve in water and stay there, experts say it might move into surface water or seep into groundwater, especially in some types of soil. Studies have shown that imidacloprid can end up in surface water and may harm small water animals, even in very small amounts.

Regulation

European Union

See also: Neonicotinoid § European Union

In the late 1990s, beekeepers in France noticed that many bees were disappearing. They thought a chemical called imidacloprid might be the cause. Experts studied the issue. In 2004, rules were changed to limit how imidacloprid could be used on crops like sunflowers and corn.

In 2013, scientists in Europe warned that imidacloprid and similar chemicals could harm bees. Because of this, rules were made to restrict how these chemicals could be used on plants that attract bees. By 2018, Europe decided to stop using these chemicals outdoors to protect bees.

United States

On July 1, 2022, the state of Massachusetts decided to stop selling imidacloprid and other similar chemicals to the general public for outdoor use. Only people with special licenses can buy them now. Other states like Maryland, Connecticut, and Vermont also have rules to limit using these chemicals.