Imidacloprid

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid pesticide that is made by Bayer and sold under the brand name Admire. It is implicated in the deaths of honeybees.

Products Containing Imidacloprid

• Admire Pro: Made by Bayer. Imidacloprid is the only active ingredient. Registered for use on a large number of crops, including: almonds, apples, apricots, artichokes, arugula, avocados, bananas, basil, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cassava, catnip, celery, chamomile, chard, cherries, chickpeas, Christmas trees, citrus, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, grapes, kale, lettuce, melons, nuts, okra, onions, peas, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, soybeans, spinach, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini, and more.
• Aeris: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are imidacloprid and thiodicarb. Aeris is registered for use on cotton and it targets aphids, thrips, cutworms, and nematodes.
• Gaucho: Made by Bayer. Imidacloprid is the only active ingredient. Registered for use on many crops, including: barley, beans, carrots, chickpeas, corn (sweet corn, field corn, and popcorn), cotton seed, flax, lentils, millet, mustard seed, oats, peas, peppers, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sorghum, soybeans, squash, sugar beets, sunflowers, tomatoes, triticale, and wheat.
• Gaucho XT: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are imidacloprid, Metalaxyl, and Tebuconazole. Registered for use on barley, oats, switchgrass, and wheat.
• Leverage 2.7: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are imidacloprid and Cyfluthrin. It is registered for use on many crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and soybeans.
• Leverage 360: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are imidacloprid and beta-cyfluthrin. Registered for use on fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, peas, soybeans, and cotton.

For home gardeners:

• 2-In-1 Insect Control Plus Fertilizer Plant Spikes : Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on potted roses, palms, ficus, houseplants, hibiscus, flowers, vines, and containerized shrubs and trees. to kill Aphids, Leafhoppers, Mealybugs, Plant bugs, Scales, Thrips, and Whiteflies.
• 2-in-1 Systemic Rose and Flower Care: Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on roses, flowers, and shrubs to kill Adelgids, Aphids, Black Vine Weevil Larvae, Japanese Beetle Adults, Lacebugs, Leaf Beetles (including Viburnum Leaf Beetles), Leafhoppers, Leafminers, Mealybugs, Pine Tip Moth Larvae, Psyllids, Sawfly Larvae, Scales (including Armored Scale (suppression) and Soft Scale), Thrips, and Whiteflies.
• 3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are Imidacloprid, Tau-fluvalinate, and Tebuconazole. Registered for use on roses, flowers, houseplants, ground covers, vines, ornamentals, shrubs, and trees (non-edible plants only). Kills Aphids, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, leafminers, spider mites, whiteflies, Anthracnose, black spot, leaf spot, petal blight, powdery mildew, rust, and scab.
• 3-In-1 Tree & Shrub Plant Starter: Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on outdoor trees and shrubs, plus non-bearing fruit and nut trees to kill adelgids, aphids, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, leafminers, scale, and whiteflies.
• 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Landscape Formula : Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on Outdoor trees and shrubs including listed fruit and nut trees: Apple, Mayhaw, Pecan, Crabapple, Oriental Pear, Quince, Loquat, and Pear.
• 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed: Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on Outdoor trees and shrubs, including Apple, Loquat, Oriental Pear, Pecan, Crabapple, Mayhaw, Pear, and Quince trees, and containerized plants to kill Adelgids, Aphids, Japanese Beetles, Leafminers, and Scale.
• 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed II: Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid and Clothianidin. Registered for use on outdoor trees and shrubs and containerized plants but not plants grown for food. Used to kill Adelgids, Aphids, Borers, Caterpillars, Japanese Beetles, Leafminers, Scale, and Whiteflies.
• All-in-One Rose and Flower Care: Made by Bayer. Contains Tebuconazole and Imidacloprid. Registered for use on Roses, Flowers, Iris, Hibiscus, Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons, and other shrubs to control Adelgids, Aphids, Black Vine Weevil Larvae, Japanese Beetles (adults), LaceBugs, Leaf Beetles, Leafhoppers, Mealybugs, Psyllids, Thrips, and White Flies.
• Complete Brand Insect Killer For Soil & Turf: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are imidacloprid and Beta-Cyfluthrin. Registered for use on Lawn, Ground Covers, Flower Beds, Around Trees & Shrubs, and Around Homes.
• Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer: Made by Bayer. Active ingredients are beta-cyfluthrin and Imidacloprid. Registered for use on Roses, Flowers, Houseplants, Ground Covers and Shrubs to kill aphids, Japanese Beetles (adult), Leafminers, and Whiteflies.
• Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control: Made by Bayer. Contains Imidacloprid. Registered for use on Cherry, Peach, Apple, Pear, Banana, Plantain, Citrus, Pomegranate, Tree Nuts, Mango, and Avocados.

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Neonicotinoids
• Colony Collapse Disorder
• Clothianidin
• Sulfoxaflor
• Thiamethoxam

External articles

2016:

• Brandt, A., Gorenflo, A., Siede, R., Meixner, M., & Büchler, R. (2016). The neonicotinoids thiacloprid, imidacloprid, and clothianidin affect the immunocompetence of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Journal of Insect Physiology, 86, 40–47.
• Calatayud-Vernich, P., Calatayud, F., Simó, E., Suarez-Varela, M. M., & Picó, Y. (2016). Influence of pesticide use in fruit orchards during blooming on honeybee mortality in 4 experimental apiaries. Science of The Total Environment, 541, 33–41.
• Codling, G., Al Naggar, Y., Giesy, J. P., & Robertson, A. J. (2016). Concentrations of neonicotinoid insecticides in honey, pollen and honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in central Saskatchewan, Canada. Chemosphere, 144, 2321–2328.
• David, A., Botías, C., Abdul-Sada, A., Nicholls, E., Rotheray, E. L., Hill, E. M., & Goulson, D. (2016). Widespread contamination of wildflower and bee-collected pollen with complex mixtures of neonicotinoids and fungicides commonly applied to crops. Environment International, 88, 169–178.
• Hladik, M. L., Vandever, M., & Smalling, K. L. (2016). Exposure of native bees foraging in an agricultural landscape to current-use pesticides. Science of The Total Environment, 542, Part A, 469–477.
• Jones, A., & Turnbull, G. (2016). Neonicotinoid Concentrations in UK Honey from 2013. Pest Management Science.
• Peng, Y.-C., & Yang, E.-C. (2016). Sublethal Dosage of Imidacloprid Reduces the Microglomerular Density of Honey Bee Mushroom Bodies. Scientific Reports, 6, 19298.

2015:

• Blanken, L. J., Langevelde, F. van, & Dooremalen, C. van. (2015). Interaction between Varroa destructor and imidacloprid reduces flight capacity of honeybees. Proc. R. Soc. B, 282(1820), 20151738.
• Charreton, M., Decourtye, A., Henry, M., Rodet, G., Sandoz, J.-C., Charnet, P., & Collet, C. (2015). A Locomotor Deficit Induced by Sublethal Doses of Pyrethroid and Neonicotinoid Insecticides in the Honeybee Apis mellifera. PLoS ONE, 10(12), e0144879.
• Dively, G. P., Embrey, M. S., Kamel, A., Hawthorne, D. J., & Pettis, J. S. (2015a). Assessment of Chronic Sublethal Effects of Imidacloprid on Honey Bee Colony Health. PLoS ONE, 10(3), e0118748.
• Dively, G. P., Embrey, M. S., Kamel, A., Hawthorne, D. J., & Pettis, J. S. (2015b). Correction: Assessment of Chronic Sublethal Effects of Imidacloprid on Honey Bee Colony Health. PLoS ONE, 10(4).
• Jia HuiRu, Wu YanYan, Dai PingLi, Wang Qiang, & Zhou Ting. (2015). Effects of the sublethal doses of imidacloprid on the bacterial diversity in the midgut of Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Acta Entomologica Sinica, 58(2), 139–146.
• Karahan, A., Çakmak, I., Hranitz, J. M., Karaca, I., & Wells, H. (2015). Sublethal imidacloprid effects on honey bee flower choices when foraging. Ecotoxicology, 24(9), 2017–2025.
• Mengoni Goñalons, C., & Farina, W. M. (2015). Effects of Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid on Young Adult Honeybee Behaviour. PLoS ONE, 10(10), e0140814.
• Nahar, N., & Ohtani, T. (2015). Imidacloprid and Fipronil induced abnormal behavior and disturbed homing of forager honey bees Apis mellifera. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 3(2), 65–72.
• Paudel, Y. P., Mackereth, R., Hanley, R., & Qin, W. (2015). Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) and Pollination Issues: Current status, impacts and potential drivers of decline. Journal of Agricultural Science, 7(6), 93.
• Poquet, Y., Kairo, G., Tchamitchian, S., Brunet, J.-L., & Belzunces, L. P. (2015). Wings as a new route of exposure to pesticides in the honey bee. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 34(9), 1983–1988.
• Rand, E. E. du, Smit, S., Beukes, M., Apostolides, Z., Pirk, C. W. W., & Nicolson, S. W. (2015). Detoxification mechanisms of honey bees (Apis mellifera) resulting in tolerance of dietary nicotine. Scientific Reports, 5, 11779.
• Retschnig, G., Williams, G. R., Odemer, R., Boltin, J., Di Poto, C., Mehmann, M. M., … Neumann, P. (2015). Effects, but no interactions, of ubiquitous pesticide and parasite stressors on honey bee (Apis mellifera) lifespan and behaviour in a colony environment. Environmental Microbiology, 17(11), 4322–4331.
• Rinkevich, F. D., Margotta, J. W., Pittman, J. M., Danka, R. G., Tarver, M. R., Ottea, J. A., & Healy, K. B. (2015). Genetics, Synergists, and Age Affect Insecticide Sensitivity of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. PLoS ONE, 10(10), e0139841.
• Stanley, J., Sah, K., Jain, S. K., Bhatt, J. C., & Sushil, S. N. (2015). Evaluation of pesticide toxicity at their field recommended doses to honeybees, Apis cerana and A. mellifera through laboratory, semi-field and field studies. Chemosphere, 119, 668–674.
• Tan, K., Chen, W., Dong, S., Liu, X., Wang, Y., & Nieh, J. C. (2015). A neonicotinoid impairs olfactory learning in Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) exposed as larvae or as adults. Scientific Reports, 5, 10989.
• Wright, G. A., Softley, S., & Earnshaw, H. (2015). Low doses of neonicotinoid pesticides in food rewards impair short-term olfactory memory in foraging-age honeybees. Scientific Reports, 5.
• Wu, Y.-Y., Zhou, T., Wang, Q., Dai, P.-L., Xu, S.-F., Jia, H.-R., & Wang, X. (2015). Programmed Cell Death in the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Worker Brain Induced by Imidacloprid. Journal of Economic Entomology, 108(4), 1486–1494.
• Zhang, E., & Nieh, J. C. (2015). The neonicotinoid imidacloprid impairs honey bee aversive learning of simulated predation. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(20), 3199–3205.

2014:

• Bonmatin, J.-M., Giorio, C., Girolami, V., Goulson, D., Kreutzweiser, D. P., Krupke, C., … Tapparo, A. (2014). Environmental fate and exposure; neonicotinoids and fipronil. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(1), 35–67.
• Cresswell, J. E., Robert, F.-X. L., Florance, H., & Smirnoff, N. (2014). Clearance of ingested neonicotinoid pesticide (imidacloprid) in honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Pest Management Science, 70(2), 332–337.
• Johnson, J. D., & Pettis, J. S. (2014). A Survey of Imidacloprid Levels in Water Sources Potentially Frequented by Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the Eastern USA. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(11), 1–6.
• Nicodemo, D., Maioli, M. A., Medeiros, H. C. D., Guelfi, M., Balieira, K. V. B., De Jong, D., & Mingatto, F. E. (2014). Fipronil and imidacloprid reduce honeybee mitochondrial activity. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33(9), 2070–2075.
• Poquet, Y., Bodin, L., Tchamitchian, M., Fusellier, M., Giroud, B., Lafay, F., … Belzunces, L. P. (2014). A Pragmatic Approach to Assess the Exposure of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) When Subjected to Pesticide Spray. PLoS ONE, 9(11), e113728.
• Rondeau, G., Sánchez-Bayo, F., Tennekes, H. A., Decourtye, A., Ramírez-Romero, R., & Desneux, N. (2014). Delayed and time-cumulative toxicity of imidacloprid in bees, ants and termites. Scientific Reports, 4.
• Scholer, J., & Krischik, V. (2014). Chronic Exposure of Imidacloprid and Clothianidin Reduce Queen Survival, Foraging, and Nectar Storing in Colonies of Bombus impatiens. PLoS ONE, 9(3), e91573.
• Tan, K., Chen, W., Dong, S., Liu, X., Wang, Y., & Nieh, J. C. (2014). Imidacloprid Alters Foraging and Decreases Bee Avoidance of Predators. PLoS ONE, 9(7), e102725.
• Thompson, H. M., Fryday, S. L., Harkin, S., & Milner, S. (2014). Potential impacts of synergism in honeybees (Apis mellifera) of exposure to neonicotinoids and sprayed fungicides in crops. Apidologie, 45(5), 545–553.
• Wu YanYan, Zhou Ting, Wubie, A. J., Wang Qiang, Dai PingLi, & Jia HuiRu. (2014). Apoptosis in the nerve cells of adult honeybee (Apis mellifera ligustica) brain induced by imidacloprid. Acta Entomologica Sinica, 57(2), 194–203.

2013:

• Boily, M., Sarrasin, B., DeBlois, C., Aras, P., & Chagnon, M. (2013). Acetylcholinesterase in honey bees (Apis mellifera) exposed to neonicotinoids, atrazine and glyphosate: laboratory and field experiments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(8), 5603–5614.
• Carrillo, M. P., Bovi, T. de S., Negrão, A. F., & Orsi, R. de O. (2013). Influence of agrochemicals fipronil and imidacloprid on the learning behavior of Apis mellifera L. honeybees. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 35(4), 431–434.
• de Almeida Rossi, C., Roat, T. C., Tavares, D. A., Cintra-Socolowski, P., & Malaspina, O. (2013). Effects of sublethal doses of imidacloprid in malpighian tubules of africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Microscopy Research and Technique, 76(5), 552–558.
• Hatjina, F., Papaefthimiou, C., Charistos, L., Dogaroglu, T., Bouga, M., Emmanouil, C., & Arnold, G. (2013). Sublethal doses of imidacloprid decreased size of hypopharyngeal glands and respiratory rhythm of honeybees in vivo. Apidologie, 44(4), 467–480.
• Rossi, C. de A., Roat, T. C., Tavares, D. A., Cintra-Socolowski, P., & Malaspina, O. (2013). Brain Morphophysiology of Africanized Bee Apis mellifera Exposed to Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 65(2), 234–243.
• Stoner, K. A., & Eitzer, B. D. (2013). Using a Hazard Quotient to Evaluate Pesticide Residues Detected in Pollen Trapped from Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Connecticut. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e77550.

2012:

• Blacquière, T., Smagghe, G., Gestel, C. A. M. van, & Mommaerts, V. (2012). Neonicotinoids in bees: a review on concentrations, side-effects and risk assessment. Ecotoxicology, 21(4), 973–992.
• Cresswell, J. E., Page, C. J., Uygun, M. B., Holmbergh, M., Li, Y., Wheeler, J. G., … Tyler, C. R. (2012). Differential sensitivity of honey bees and bumble bees to a dietary insecticide (imidacloprid). Zoology, 115(6), 365–371.
• Gregorc, A., Evans, J. D., Scharf, M., & Ellis, J. D. (2012). Gene expression in honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae exposed to pesticides and Varroa mites (Varroa destructor). Journal of Insect Physiology, 58(8), 1042–1049.
• Laycock, I., Lenthall, K. M., Barratt, A. T., & Cresswell, J. E. (2012). Effects of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, on reproduction in worker bumble bees (Bombus terrestris). Ecotoxicology, 21(7), 1937–1945.
• Pettis, J. S., vanEngelsdorp, D., Johnson, J., & Dively, G. (2012). Pesticide exposure in honey bees results in increased levels of the gut pathogen Nosema. Naturwissenschaften, 99(2), 153–158.
• Schneider, C. W., Tautz, J., Grünewald, B., & Fuchs, S. (2012). RFID Tracking of Sublethal Effects of Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides on the Foraging Behavior of Apis mellifera. PLoS ONE, 7(1), e30023.
• Teeters, B. S., Johnson, R. M., Ellis, M. D., & Siegfried, B. D. (2012). Using video-tracking to assess sublethal effects of pesticides on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31(6), 1349–1354.
• Williamson, S. M., Baker, D. D., & Wright, G. A. (2012). Acute exposure to a sublethal dose of imidacloprid and coumaphos enhances olfactory learning and memory in the honeybee Apis mellifera. Invertebrate Neuroscience, 13(1), 63–70.
• Yang, E.-C., Chang, H.-C., Wu, W.-Y., & Chen, Y.-W. (2012). Impaired Olfactory Associative Behavior of Honeybee Workers Due to Contamination of Imidacloprid in the Larval Stage. PLoS ONE, 7(11), e49472.