> > >We were told that the bees would completely metabolize the pesticide, and > never allow a toxic dose to accumulate. > And that appears to be the case. > >We were told that pest insects did not have the ability to metabolize the > pesticide, and would die at doses far lower than would harm a bee. > I never heard that one. The entire point of seed treatment is to have a high dose in the young plant--easily high enough to kill a bee if the bee were interested in eating that plant tissue. > > >But if the result of metabolization is to simply create more molecules, > each > which is able to block the same receptors just as easily as the > un-metabolized pesticide > The metabolization does not create *additional* molecules--it can't multiply, since it's toxicity depends upon a specific binding structure. IMI degrades into two binding metabolites, but the sum of the two can't be more than the original concentration, and as far as I understand, do not exceed the toxicity of the initial dose of the parent compount (anyone please correct me if I've got this wrong). > > Are there any known-harmless metabolites of imidacloprid? > Of course. IMI will eventually be metabolized into CO2, water, and ammonia. According to Suchail, only two of the intermediate metabolites are considered toxic. -- Randy Oliver Grass Valley, CA www.ScientificBeekeeping.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html