>Given that the purpose of (most) 
insecticides is to kill something – does it matter if they kill outright 
as the old insecticides did or over time as sub-lethal doses accumulate?

I think that it does.  With the 'old' insecticides it was usually clear when you had a kill - piles of dead bees - some bodies that could be analysed - the opportunity to take action to ensure that the person who misused them could be brought to book.

The neonics are insidious in their action - weakening or killing, but leaving no clear evidence as the bees die away from the hive - and that makes it easy for the manufacturers to point the finger at other problems such as varroa.

Best wishes

Peter 
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W

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