ScienceAugust 17, 2026

neonicotinoid

NEE-oh-NIK-uh-tin-oyd

Definition

A class of insecticides that are chemically similar to nicotine and act on the central nervous systems of insects.

Etymology

The term is a portmanteau derived from the Greek 'neos' (new) combined with 'nicotine' and the suffix '-oid', indicating it has a structure or effect similar to nicotine.

In the news

Thiamethoxam is identified as a neonicotinoid, a type of insecticide that disrupts the nervous system of ants, causing them to roam erratically before eventually dying.

Pesticides make ants go crazy

Read the full article ↗

University of California, Riverside

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