Flowers and soil

Contamination by flower spores

Bees picking up chalkbrood spores from flowers has been suggested as a means of spreading chalkbrood disease, a fungal disease infecting bee brood. However, unlike AFB spores, relatively few chalkbrood spores need to be carried back to a hive to create an infection.

Except where bee-collected pollen is applied to flowers in commercial quantities during artificial pollination, honey bees are very unlikely to pick up enough AFB spores from flowers to initiate the disease.

Contamination by infected soil

Many beekeepers have heard stories about a colony developing AFB after it has been placed in the same position in an apiary as a previously removed AFB hive. The new infection is usually blamed on the contamination of soil in front of the hive with AFB spores.

Research has shown, however, that soil is unlikely to be a source of AFB infection. One study looked for spores in the front of AFB infected hives, but was unable to find any at all. The study demonstrated that rain water quickly leached the spores from the soil surface.

Flowers and soil are not a factor in the spread of AFB.

AFB Quiz
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How well do you know what you need to know about AFB and beekeeping? Take our short quiz and find out.

AFB Videos
Videos

Our videos cover everything from your legal obligations to how to recognise AFB, collecting cell and bee samples and more.

AFB Symptoms
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.

AFB Inspection and Diagnosis
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.

AFB Law
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.

AFB Elimination
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 Course Info
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.

AFB App
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.

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