Neonicotinoid

neonicotinoid, also called neonic, any of a class of synthetic systemic insecticides that are chemically related to nicotine. Neonicotinoids are used especially in agriculture to control destructive pests such as aphids and mites. Since their introduction in the late 1980s, the chemicals have become the most widely used pesticides in the world. The prophylactic use of neonicotinoids has had a negative impact on a broad range of nontarget organisms, including pollinators and soil and aquatic invertebrates, raising environmental concerns. Consequently, their use has been heavily restricted in some countries.