Thiamethoxam is an insecticide in the class of neonicotinoids. It has a broad spectrum of activity against many types of insects. Thiamethoxam is a systemic insecticide that is absorbed quickly by plants and transported to all parts of the plant, where it acts as a deterrent to insect feeding. It is active in the stomach of the insects, and also through direct contact. The compound interferes with information transfer between nerve cells, making the insects become paralyzed. Thiamethoxam is effective against aphids, thrips, beetles, centipedes, millipedes, sawflies, leaf miners, stem borers and termites. Syngenta asserts that thiamethoxam triggers various physiological reactions, which induce the expression of specific functional proteins involved in various stress defense mechanisms of the plant allowing it to better cope under tough growing conditions.