In 2013 governments in Europe took a precautionary approach by partially restricting the application of the widely used neonicotinoid pesticides thiamethoxam, clothianidin, and imidacloprid, with the mandate to perform further environmental risk assessments. A new inter-governmental review will take place in the coming months. Previous research suggests that these chemicals cause both lethal and sub-lethal effects on honey bee workers from exposure, but nothing is known about how they may affect queens.