[Max]

How about a good quick (or slow, as long as it's good) way to tell AFB from EFB?

 

[Iddee]

AFB will string out on a stick. EFB will not.

 

[PerryBee]

Max, try this link, it may help some.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/bees/americanfoulbrood.htm

 

[Gypsi]

the dried scale is different too.

 

[Gypsi]

How to give your bees EFB. Use old comb from an old dead beetree in your swarm traps, and leave it in for their queen to lay in. My neighbors hive was badly infected, and when I saw 2 frames i knew just how they got it. And how hives 1 and 4 got it. 3 bugged out and I restarted from 2 when I divided it. 2 was robbing out hives 1 and 4. Kaching!

I like to have answers. all being dealt with to treat bees and eliminate contagion as much as possible.

 

[ApisBees]

Gypsi It is good to keep these relevant posts that can effect the health our hives active to keep us aware of the disease symptoms and treatment.
Thanks ApisBees

 

[ORoedel]

http://on.uni-graz.at/de/universitaet/article/rettung-aus-dem-darm/
They found a way to heal a colony who is infected with afb. They isolated a substance of the intestine of adult bees (lpc) which combats the bacillus of afb.

 

[Gypsi]

EFB is treatable, but from what I have seen in my own apiary this year, the old solution of "a good honey flow will fix it" is comparable to the tooth fairy bringing me a dollar for a tooth. May be because North Texas may never have a good honey flow, at least my part of it. I believe I'm going to give up bees and resume my gardening. Ya'll have fun

 

[DonMcJr]

I have a few questions about AFB. Someone in our Bee Club got an old hive from a farm Auction. It was not touched in 2 years and has bees in it. She looked into the bottom deep yesterday and discovered AFB. It's been about 30 yards from her other good hive for a few days and she is going to move it far away. If I am correct you can treat and the symptoms go away but when you stop treating it comes back. Right?

So the best thing to do is burn the hive... so do you light the whole hive on fire at night and it will kill the bees too? Or since it will be 32 F Wednesday night should she open up the hive after dark and let the cold kill the bees then burn everything?

Or is there a better way?

Thanks I have never had to deal with AFB...

 

[PerryBee]

Usually best to kill the bees before you light it up. I wouldn't rely on the cold killing them. If the boxes themselves are in good shape, a thorough scorching should be able to salvage those.

 

[DonMcJr]

So use an insect killer to kill them 1st? The boxes are in pretty bad shape and I don't think she wants to save them...

 

[PerryBee]

Hi Don:
Up here the recommendation of sorts is to use a strip of Vapona (?) to kill the colony, and then burn. I've heard of other methods (including gasoline)! :shock:

 

[riverbee]

"Or since it will be 32 F Wednesday night should she open up the hive after dark and let the cold kill the bees then burn everything?"

don, yes, just have her take the lid off and leave it off, they won't survive. i know perry said not to rely on cold weather, but.....spray them down with water, take the lid off. they won't survive. not very pleasant. you can use insect killer if you'd like, none of it is very pleasant but you can't save it.......
in your neck of the northern country woods too late to save the bees. sorry she had this experience, but this goes to buying used equipment and not knowing what we are purchasing. and i wouldn't try to save the boxes either.
sorry don.....

 

[Gypsi]

I cannot imagine trying to fight AFB. I didn't give up bees but EFB was sickening. I am sorry for her loss, but best to stop it there. Whatever honey or stores are in the hive MUST be destroyed before her bees stand a chance of stealing any of them. But you know that.

 

[biffertwrf]

When cleaning infected cells, bees distribute spores throughout the entire colony. Disease spreads rapidly throughout the hive as the bees, attempting to remove the spore-laden dead larvae, contaminate brood food.