Neonicotinoids are among the most effective insecticides for the control of sucking insects such as aphids, whiteflies, leaf- and planthoppers, thrips, some micro lepidoptera and a number of coleopteran pests. Their broad spectrum of efficacy togetherwith systemic, translaminar, pronounced residual activity and the unique mode of action make the neonicotinoids the most rapidly expanding insecticidal class since the launch of the first product, imidacloprid (Bayer CropScience, 1991). In the ten yearsthat followed six other neonicotinoid insecticides were launched: acetamiprid (Nippon Soda, 1995), nitenpyram (Sumitomo Chemical Takeda Agro Company, 1995), thiamethoxam (Syngenta, 1998), thiacloprid (Bayer CropScience, 2000), clothianidin (SumiTake, Bayer CropScience, 2001), dinotefuran (Mitsui Chemicals, 2002). Their biological profiles and main differences are summarised. The outstanding development of neonicotinoid insecticides for crop protection, consumer / professional products and animal healthmarkets between 1990 and today reflect the unique success of this chemical class. The technical profile and multiple uses of neonicotinoid insecticides are described using imidacloprid, the forerunner and most successful molecule from this chemical class, as an example.
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