AFB and Screened Bottom Board - Safe for a New Colony?

[PA Pete]

If you read my post about using sulfur to kill a colony, you know I had my first encounter with AFB this week. The colony was on a screened bottom board, sitting on a double stand.

The bottom board was pretty old, so I decided to burn it along with the frames rather than being penny wise and pound foolish. I also burned the migratory cover. While the frames, cover, and BB were burning I scorched the inside of the three medium supers the colony was in.

Now my question... Given that the hive was wide open on the bottom, what is everyone's thought about the safety of placing a new screened BB colony on the old stand? I'm thinking there are probably AFB spores all over the place on and under the stand in that spot. I could scorch it, but what about the ground underneath? I'd appreciate most hearing about others' actual experience in similar situations.

Thanks!

-Pete

[AmericasBeekeeper]

In Florida we have to bury the whole mess. It is probably based on experience. AFB is such a bad experience, I would err on the safe side.

[Oldtimer]

Likewise.

There is a risk.

Sometimes this will be OK, other times AFB will re-appear. Just depends if you are happy to risk another hive. But there will definately be spores in the ground.

I deal with a lot of AFB because I'm a government inspector for it in my country. I have seen it come back in such situations. When people ask me the exact question you asked, I tell them find a different site.

[honeydreams]

The proper thing is to burn it all! And sorry for your loss.