ONE cell has AFB; hive a goner? Help!

[Ben Brewcat]

Following up to my queen-not-laying-yet inspection, I saw a single capped cell, far from the cluster in an otherwise empty comb, so opened it up and pulled the pupa out. Pupa on her back, tongue vertical to the roof, not dissolving yet that I could see. No smell I could detect and wasn't able to make it "rope" with a twig, but I understand that that tongue is a pretty positive ID for AFB. I read in ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture that "a single cell is not unusual". There is an unmanaged hive a few blocks away, I'm wondering if that's where it came from.

This is a package started on foundation last spring. Egg and broodless so far this spring. From here, should I medicate and let them clean that one cell? Should the egg/brood-free state of the (queenright) hive be worrisome in light of that cell?

Can (and should) I shake all the bees onto foundation in new frames and scorch the bottom, top and boxes (burn all the existing frames w/ comb)?

I'd hate to lose the hive (my only), but is killing and torching the whole thing indicated for a single cell? Please tell me it's not, but I don't want to spread it and be part of the problem.

PANICKED!

[sqkcrk]

Nope. No need to panic. What you described is not AFB pupal tongue. You can't pull a pupal tongue AFB sample out of the cell.

[Michael Bush]

If you can't get it to rope I wouldn't panic yet. Look for some more. Probably it's just chilled brood. Try to get some to rope.

[Big Stinger]

What is rope your talkn about.

[sqkcrk]

Roping is a term used when talking about AFB. When you suspect an AFB infection, look for perferated cell cappings. Take a wooden match stick, q-tip swab or a small twig and insert it into the cell. If a brown viscuss liquid, brownish colored, stretches out of the cell somewhat like rubber cement, when you pull the stick out, that is roping. The "string" of liquid roping out of the cell when you extract the stick should snap back when it breaks.

[Sundance]

Sounds like chilled brood. Relax and do a 40 ;)

[Ben Brewcat]

OK, deep breaths. Thanks folks. Does it seem weird that there's no brood or eggs, but this one cell isolated from the cluster? Could it be left over from fall?

Relax and do a 40 [Wink] What's a 40? That's two imperial pints in my book, but always looking to branch out with relaxation techniques!

[Michael Bush]

Probably. Or they reared a batch of brood sometime during the winter and that one got chilled.

[Kishwaukee Goldminer]

Hey Ben, did you SMELL a strange odor from that cell? AFB really STINKS, which caused the name FOULbrood. No odor -- foulbrood is very unlikely. But you could medicate just to be sure.

[newbee 101]

I found 2 or 3 in my empty bottom deep. Brood leftover from the late fall that died and was never cleaned out. Thats all....

[TwT]

>>>What is rope your talkn about.<<<

this is what I understand roping is below


http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/pest&disease/slide16.htm

[ March 27, 2006, 10:12 PM: Message edited by: TwT ]

[Joel]

Getting an odor from one cell would take a pretty good snifer. Keep in mind that all ropiness does not mean AFB. When you stick your twig or wooden match into a frame and stir it up AFB suspect larave will rope out very clearly and up to about 1/4 inch. This should then be backed up my a milk test for AFB. Tylan has been approved for the treatment of AFB but treatment is a mistake as far as I'm concerned. If you have a strong hive and want to save the bees I would shake the bees onto new foundation, treat with TM, requeen and keep an eye on the brood for the next 60 days. I would burn the infected frames and sterilize the bottom board. EFB also ropes out bu the ropiness will barely clear the cell. EFB is of minor concern and usually will be cleaned up by a strong hive quickly. I would re-queen and AFB hive.

What you are describing would not concern me very much but a milk test would give you peace of mind.