Symptoms of AFB

  • Colonies infected with AFB have a distinctive, foul odor (something like a chicken house).
  • Brood pattern is spotty.
  • Diseased larvae are light brown to dark brown. Sealed brood has a glue-like texture when drawn out of the cell with a toothpick , a characteristic called “ropiness.”
  • Cappings become concave, with some punctured by small holes as bees attempt to remove dead brood.
  • Dead, dried out larvae may be found as scales stuck to cell walls. These are difficult to remove.
  • Dead pupae may have protruding tongues.
  • Few adult workers are present in the colony’s final stages.

About the disease

Management strategies

If AFB is detected

Treating AFB with antibiotics in Ohio: as of 1/2017