Blamed for Bee Collapse, Monsanto Buys Leading Bee Research Firm

[FarCenter]

9. Bayer, Aventis, Takeda, and Mitsui are the major producers of neonicotinoid insecticides

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid

Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically related to nicotine. The development of this class of insecticides began with work in the 1980s by Shell and the 1990s by Bayer.[1] The neonicotinoids were developed in large part because they show reduced toxicity compared to previously used organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Most neonicotinoids show much lower toxicity in mammals than insects, but some breakdown products are toxic.[2] Neonicotinoids are the first new class of insecticides introduced in the last 50 years, and the neonicotinoid imidacloprid is currently the most widely used insecticide in the world.[3] Recently, the use of some members of this class has been restricted in some countries due to evidence of a connection to honey-bee colony collapse disorder.[4][5]

These have been banned in France and other countries in Europe. AFAIK, Monsanto does not manufacture neonicotinoids.