Pesticide widely used in US particularly harmful to bees, study finds

Agriculture has become 48 times more toxic to insects in last 25 years as neonics are used on over 140 different types of crops

Agriculture in the United States has become 48 times more toxic to insects over the last 25 years, largely due to a controversial, widely used class of pesticides that are particularly harmful to bees, according to a study published on Tuesday.

Neonicotinoid pesticides, also known as neonics, are used on more than 140 different types of crops, from apples to rice. Neonics are most persistent in corn and soybeans as the pesticide is used to coat the seeds of these crops.