Pesticide ban proposed

OLYMPIA — A proposal in the Legislature calls for neonicotinoid pesticides — known for their harmful effects on the nervous systems of insects — to be banned for household use.

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, sponsored the measure, Senate Bill 5972; he blames the use of the pesticides for killing bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

“About 1/3 of our agricultural sector needs pollination to thrive, and our pollinators, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in this state are under more and more threat,” Liias said.

Opponents disagree.

Washington State University professor Allan Felsot said the bi...