1. relating to or denoting a class of insecticides that act on the nervous system of insects by mimicking nicotine
Usage: technical; chemistry/agriculture

Examples

• Neonic pesticides are widely used in agriculture to control crop-damaging insects.
• The farmer applied a neonic treatment to protect the wheat from aphids.
• Environmental groups have raised concerns about the effects of neonic insecticides on bee populations.
• Neonic compounds work by disrupting the insect nervous system.
• Several countries have restricted the use of neonic pesticides due to ecological concerns.