> The metabolism of certain neonicotinoids in insects 
> and plants results in the appearance of metabolites
> toxic to bees. 

> In plants and in the honey bee, imidacloprid is 
> transformed into different metabolites such as 
> olefin and 5-hydroxyimidacloprid, which are toxic 
> to the bees

Yeah, this is the difference between what we were told, and what keeps
popping up in datasets.
We were told that the bees would completely metabolize the pesticide, and
never allow a toxic dose to accumulate.
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.

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, then when does the bee ever metabolize the
pesticide down to a set of metabolites that are actually harmless?

Are there any known-harmless metabolites of imidacloprid?   I'm now unsure.

Do we even know all the metabolites of imidacloprid?   I'm more and more
convinced that the answer is "no".

I am reminded of the tune by Michael Franti & Spearhead:

"Seems like everywhere I go,
The more I see, the less I know..."
	

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