Please Plant Safe Plants!
Please note plants treated with neonicotinoid pesticides will kill caterpillars; caterpillars are one of the targets of these pesticides. Be sure to check the label to see if the plants you are buying are treated with these pesticides. Please read labels. Some common commercial names of these chemicals are: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam. There are a lot of good articles about the effects of these chemicals at www.xerces.org . I have linked to a few very solid, well researched, scientific articles below.
2 Articles about butterfly impact:
New Research Links Neonicotinoid Pesticides to Monarch Butterfly Declines
These pesticides have also been determined by several researchers to be one of the contributing factors that causes Colony Collapse Disorder.
2 Articles about bee impact:
Study strengthens link between neonicotinoids and collapse of honey bee colonies
These pesticides have also been determined to be toxic to songbirds:
2 Articles about impacts on birds:
Declines in Insectivorous Birds Associated with High Neonicotinoid Concentrations
Again, dear gardeners, please read labels. Some common commercial names of these chemicals are: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam.
