Common farm chemicals may be heralding an ‘insect apocalypse’

Fruits and vegetables are often sprayed with fungicides to keep mold at bay. However, new research suggests one of these chemicals could be quietly harming insects that are critical to healthy ecosystems and could lead to an insect apocalypse.

According to a study from Macquarie University, one of the world’s most widely used fungicides, chlorothalonil, drastically reduces insect fertility. It does so even at the lowest levels commonly found on produce.

During testing and research...