a Mr Oliver snip...
Most insecticides are not water soluble--the neonics being the exception.
And many quickly degrade in the environment or bind to soil (e.g.
glyphosate) or organic matter (e.g. clothianidin). Thus the surprising
thing is exactly how they were transported to the bees.  Native bees would
be exposed to nectar and pollen, and to the soil or wood in which they make
their nests.  But most do not travel far from the nest.  The bees sampled
from grassland areas would not be expected to have flown to treated
cropland.

my comments...
I suspect your notion of neonics being THE exception would be subject to question.  I know for certain most of these ag chemical are applied when diluted in water and certainly some may require a surfactant*.  Of course IF there are other liquid materials you can dilute these product in then others here I would hope would enhance my understanding on such matters.

Beyond nectar and pollen you seem to have forgotten the biological need for water... which as far as I can tell a hive will normally obtain from the closes possible source and with no apparent choice mechanism for quality.  Lastly.. in soils (even concrete for that matter) water will tend to 'wick up' thru the pores so rain or irrigation water does not necessarily simply flow away and downward.

*My last question would be does the chemical + surfactant better or worse than a chemical that is simply dilutes in water?

and lastly Merry Christmas to you and yours and I do hope the New Year brings you a bit more rainfall.    

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