Neonicotinoids are a family of active substances which include imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. They are used in plant protection to control harmful insects and also in veterinary medicine. The name literally means “new nicotine-like insecticide” due to the chemical similarity to nicotine. Sometimes the name neonicotinoids is shortened to “neonics” or “NNIs”.¨The neonicotinoid class accounts for about 20% of the current global insecticide market.