Pesticides and the Biodiversity of Bees and Butterflies Do pesticides have any negative effect(s) on biodiversity? While the main function of pesticides is to control pests, they still have negative effects on biodiversity, both in the short and long run. Pesticides toxicity have the capacity to change habitats and disrupt our food chain. In fact, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food stated that, pesticides can persist in the environment for decades and pose a global threat to the entire ecological system upon which food production depends. Their excessive use and misuse can also cause soil contamination and destroy beneficial insects population. What do these mean for bees and butterflies, two important pollinating insects? I mage Source: Pixabay Pesticides generally refer to substance that kill pests or prevent the damage a pest or weed can cause. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a pesticide is any mixture or substance intende