2014 study in PLOS ONE finds neonicotinoid insecticides in US Midwest contributed more to butterfly population decline than climate change or land use changes.

A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that agricultural insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, significantly contribute to the decline in butterfly populations across the US Midwest between 1998 and 2014. Researchers found insecticides to be more detrimental than climate change and land use changes, showcasing the unintended consequences of technologies designed to control pests on non-target species like butterflies.

June 20, 2024
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