AFB Photo Gallery
We invite all beekeepers to send in their photos of AFB and the destruction of their hives in order to help educate other beekeepers. Please send your photos to [email protected] with a brief description of each shot. For best results, the photos need to be in high resolution.
Clicking on an image will open it in a new window and a larger size.
![This heavily infected AFB frame shows what AFB infected capped cells look like. Note the darkened infected caps with a greasy and sunken appearance. Also note the variety of capping perforations present. The perforations range from tiny pin sized holes through to large chewed caps. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rixon-6-scaled-300x300.jpg)
![This picture shows the difficulty of finding AFB in older frames or deteriorated hives. An infected pupa complete with pupal tongue well away from the brood area. Located on its own within crystallized honey and pollen remains. The matchstick helps show the small size. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rixon-5-1-scaled-300x300.jpg)
![This image illustrates the colour and texture of 2 AFB infected cells found in the interim stage between coffee coloured (and able to be roped out) and a desiccated hard black scale. Note the uniform colour, texture and 'jam' like look. at this stage the contents continue to have a glossy appearance. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rixon-3-scaled-300x300.jpg)
![Rixon 8 This picture illustrates a decomposing pupa lower centre complete with head and pupal tongue. Note how bees have opened the capping up 90% and then stopped. The photo also shows a healthy cell capping top left, a young larvae lower centre and pollen stored in cells lower right. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rixon-8-scaled-300x300.jpg)
![Rixon 7 This image illustrates how glossy and smooth afb is close up. It will typically rope out 3cm or so and do so several times. It is of an even consistency. There are no lumps or areas of variable colour. It cannot be removed in one scoop. Note also, how it adheres to the edge of the cell when stirred. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rixon-7-scaled-300x300.jpg)
![Rixon 10 This image illustrates five AFB infected larvae and pupa. The fifth row from top shows three quite different slumping stages of larvae. This picture also demonstrates two stages of pupal infection where mouth parts and tongue are visible. The lower right shows how much the animal shrinks away as it desiccated. Photo supplied by Murray Rixon](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rixon-10-scaled-300x300.jpg)
AFB roping out – video courtesy of Dan Childs.
AFB roping out – video courtesy of Tom Hurford
Video courtesy of Blake Cole
Take the AFB 5 minute quiz
How well do you know what you need to know about AFB and beekeeping? Take our short quiz and find out.
Videos
Our videos cover everything from your legal obligations to how to recognise AFB, collecting cell and bee samples and more.
Symptoms
There’s a lot of good information here, telling you everything you need to know about recognising AFB: the visual symptoms, smell of AFB and more.
Inspection and Diagnosis
Successfully eliminate AFB by telling the difference between symptoms of AFB and other brood diseases in the hive. We tell you the best methods for inspecting your hives.
The Law
New Zealand beekeepers have a number of legal obligations that must be met regarding AFB disease. Read the shortened list in summary, here.
Elimination
Most hives become infected because bees, honey or equipment have been put into a hive from another hive that is infected with AFB. Lower your chances of an AFB infection by reading this section.
AFB Recognition Course Info
Find out when the next AFB Recognition and Competency Courses, or Refresher Courses are available. These are held throughout the year in various New Zealand locations across the South Island and North Island.
The AFB App
Follow the link below to open the App. Once open to save to your device you need to bookmark the URL on your phone so you can find it easily again. Please click here to open.