The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a preliminary pollinator risk assessment for the neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, which shows a threat to some pollinators. EPA’s assessment, prepared in collaboration with California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, indicates that imidacloprid potentially poses risk to hives when the pesticide comes in contact with certain crops that attract pollinators.

The loss of honeybees which pollinate crops causes significant economic losses in the agriculture industry and potentially threatens certain food supplies. The rate of loss through events like colony collapse disorder has accelerated during the last decade.