Disease!

[leat]

I think one of my hives may have European Foul Brood. What should I do? I suspect that the hive has had EFB for some time as it has had a foul odor for awhile. I know I have taken one super off and put it somewhere, but I do not know where, possibly in another hive! Should I destroy the hive and burn the boxes? And if so, where? Can I stop it's spread?

[Jens]

First, Don't burn your hive just yet, if it is european foulbrood you shouldn't need to. IF you have American foulbrood you may be interested in doing so. You may want to take a toothpick or a twig or something and stick it into one of the diseased cells and check to see if the larva is "ropey" If not and the larva are kind of watery and nasty but not ropey it may be european. If thats the case I know that requeening is advocated as treatment and reducing stress on the colony could help, but the key would be to get someone to evaluate the hive, maybe a state inspector. But for the moment put down the gas can and matches, just keep 'em handy in case.--just my .02

[leat]

Thanks, I did the test and found two cells that were ropey, but the rest of the cells I tested did not show a ropey symptom, so I am thinking EFB, not AFB. I will try Terramycin instead of the gas can, although I do not usually use anti-biotics. I will re-queen with what I hope is a resistant queen as well.

Oh, the heart break of beekeeping. As if Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa mites were not enough!