Published Today (April 4th, 2015) on Independent Science News
New Research Links Neonicotinoid Pesticides to Monarch Butterfly Declines
By Jonathan Latham, PhD
Synopsis: New research has identified the neonicotinoid insecticide
clothianidin as a likely contributor to monarch butterfly declines in
North America. The research, published on April 3rd 2015, identifies concentrations of clothianidin as low as 1 part per billion as harmful to monarch butterfly caterpillars. These concentrations of clothianidin were found in the populations of milkweeds sampled by the researchers. Previously, no research had been done on neonicotinoids and butterflies and therefore this is the first report of neonicotinoids affecting monarchs or any other butterflies. The research was conducted in Brookings, South Dakota and is published in the journal Science and Nature (Springer).
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Best wishes and thank you.
Jonathan
Jonathan Latham, PhD
Executive Director
The Bioscience Resource Project
Ithaca, NY 14850 USA
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