Flupyradifurone

also see Sulfoxaflor, Polyfluorinated pesticides and PFAs , wildlife section/insects p.2

Chemical Formula:  C12H11ClF2N2O2

A novel pesticide has lethal consequences for an important pollinator  (Science of The Total Environment, Volume 952, 20 November 2024,   "in a semi-field experiment, we exposed solitary bees (Osmia lignaria) to a commercial pesticide formulation (Sivanto Prime) containing flupyradifurone at label-recommended rates. We originally designed the experiment to examine sublethal effects, but contrary to our expectations, 100 % of bees released into pesticide-treated cages died within 3 days of exposure, compared to 0 % in control plots. Bees exposed to flupyradifurone a few days after the initial application survived but endured prolonged sublethal effects, including lower nesting success, impairment to foraging efficiency, and higher mortality.'

• Flupyradifurone is a novel insecticide licenced for use on bee-visited crops.
• We found that flupyradifurone was lethal to solitary bees.
• The pesticide also had sublethal impacts on bee nesting, foraging, and longevity.

New Insecticides Escalate Indiscriminate Harm to All Organisms  (Beyond Pesticides, October 9, 2020) A new study demonstrates that emerging “novel” insecticides can cause significant, sublethal harm to beneficial organisms at typical “real life” exposure levels.sources. As the study paper notes, “Field-realistic applications of neonicotinoids can have significant sub-lethal impacts on beneficial insects, with knock-on effects on ecosystem services. This has resulted in bans and restriction on neonicotinoid use globally, most notably in the European Union.”      Sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone, like neonics, are systemic insecticides. Flupyradifurone can persist in soils for months or years, whereas sulfoxaflor’s half-life in soil is two or three days. Research data reviewed by the subject study suggest that beneficial insects will be exposed to these compounds at relatively high concentrations in agricultural environments.      The researchers learned that flupyradifurone can have lethal impacts at field-realistic levels, with some kinds of bees being more vulnerable than others; further, and unsurprisingly, exposures to the compound were more likely to be harmful in combination with other environmental stressors, such as poor nutrition, pathogens, or other agricultural chemicals. .   The study also shows that sulfoxaflor has negative impacts on bee reproduction similar to those of neonics, particularly reduced reproduction (egg laying) and poor larval development, and that flupyradifurone exposures impair bees’ flight behavior, foraging success, and bodily temperature regulation

Despite Safety Claims, Insecticide Flupyradifurone Is Bee-Toxic on Its Own and Worse in Combination  (Beyond Pesticides, April 17, 2019)   'It functions in the same way as a neonicotinoid, though it is in the butanolide family.' 'It also delves into the FPF’s synergistic effects with a commonly used fungicide propiconazole (PRO).'. Link to study in article..  SNAP Comment: As of 20 April 2019, this insecicide does not appear to be registered in Canada

'EPA Considers 300,000-Acre Expansion of Bee-Toxic Pesticide  (Beyond Pesticides, October 19, 2018) Pollinator advocates and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) are imploring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny Bayer CropScience’s application for use of “Sivanto,”a pesticide product with the active ingredient flupyradifurone, a chemical the company claims is safer for bees, but poses the same risks at the notorious bee-toxic neonicotinoid insecticides. If approved, Sivanto would be sprayed in tobacco-growing states along 300,000 acres in the southeast U.S., areas home to more than three dozen species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Bayer’s proposal for expanded uses comes after EPA’s own assessment indicated risks to endangered species, and despite the fact that the agency has not undergone an ESA mandated consultation with federal wildlife agencies. Flupyradifurone is a systemic insecticide like neonicotinoids, and is highly water soluble.

SNAP Comment: According to PANNA Pesticide Database, it is of 'unclassified' chemical class. Five flupyradifurone have first been registered in Canada since 25 November 2015. It is therefore a recent product, too 'young' to have been submitted to independent research but seemingly, company data indicates 'risks to endangered species.'  Here is what the Sivanto label says: