News in Brief Environment

Controversial insecticide use rises as farmers douse seeds

Preventative neonicotinoid treatment could harm bees, other pollinating insects

Insecticide graph

GROWTH CHART  The amount of crop seeds coated in controversial insecticides has sprouted since the early 2000s.

Douglas and Tooker/Environmental Science & Technology 2015

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

Since the early 2000s, U.S. farmers have dramatically increased their use of controversial insecticides suspected of playing a role in the decline of pollinating insects, such as honeybees.