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The primary suspected cause of this is a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids. These are not sprayed, but rather coated on seeds (which is arguably even more alarming). See: https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v521/n7550/full/nature...

While plausible, this study doesn't suggest that.

They mention it as a potential cause, but did no research to that effect and even state they made no attempt to measure such things.

Well, the intention of insecticides is to kill insects. All insects.

It's working, but perhaps a little too well?

The intention of insecticides is to kill the insects that prey on specific crops, not to kill every single insect there is. It's working better than they thought, causing it to have unintended consequences.

side effects?

Primary effects.