Visual symptoms of American foulbrood
Overview of AFB symptoms
Symptoms of AFB are normally only found in worker larvae and pupae. (On rare occasions, symptoms will be found on drone brood (generally only in heavy infections). Symptoms of the disease are also ocassionally found in queen cells.)
What follows is a brief visual snapshot of each of the main symptoms of AFB. For more on each symptom, click on each heading below.
![8-Fig-Healthy-cell-capping Figure 8: Healthy cell capping](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/8-Fig-Healthy-cell-capping-280x280.jpg)
![9-Fig-dark-sunken-cell-capping Figure 9: Dark sunken cell capping](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/9-Fig-dark-sunken-cell-capping-280x280.jpg)
![10-Fig-cell-capping-with-hole Figure 10: A cell capping with a hole
chewed in it](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/10-Fig-cell-capping-with-hole-280x280.jpg)
![13-Fig-spotty-brood Figure 13: Spotty brood pattern](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/13-Fig-spotty-brood.jpg)
![15-Fig-Healthy-bee-prepupa Figure 15: Healthy prepupa](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/15-Fig-Healthy-bee-prepupa-280x280.jpg)
![16-Fig-Coffee-coloured-AFB Figure 16: Coffee coloured AFB](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/16-Fig-Coffee-coloured-AFB.jpg)
Figure 16: Coffee coloured prepupal AFB infected larva
![19-Fig-AFB-infected-pupa Figure 19: Early stage AFB
infected pupa](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/19-Fig-AFB-infected-pupa-200x200.jpg)
![20-Figure-AFB-infected-prepua Figure 20: A very early stage
AFB infected prepupa slumped
on the lower cell wall](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/20-Figure-AFB-infected-prepua-200x200.jpg)
![21-Fig-AFB-infected-prepupa Figure 21: An early stage
AFB infected prepupa
slumped on the lower cell wall](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/21-Fig-AFB-infected-prepupa-200x200.jpg)
![17-Fig-Pupal-scale-with-tongue Figure 17: Pupal scale with tongue](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/17-Fig-Pupal-scale-with-tongue.jpg)
![23-Fig-Infected-pupa Figure 23: Infected pupa with tongue
stretched across the cell](https://afb.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/23-Fig-Infected-pupa-280x280.jpg)
Pupal tongue is the definitive symptom of American foulbrood.
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.