5-Methyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)thiazole is an intermediate used in the synthesis of Deschloro-2-phenylsulfonyl-thiamethoxam (D290790), which is an impurity of thiamethoxam (T344180), which is a neonicotinoid insecticide. Reports show that when exposed to neonicotinid pesticides honeybees have probelms returnign home after foraging and bumblebee colonies grow poorly and produce fewer queens.