Question on AFB boxes after sterilisation

[Dave86]

Hi all

After a rather crap winter losing 12 hives and a couple of nucs to AFB I, after much deliberation and Internet research decided on sterilising my boxes(not frames, these were burnt) in a strong chlorine dip. I used 1 litre of pool chlorine per 100l of water and submersed them fully for 30 mins. I got the rates off a New Zealand gov page as a recommended sterilising method.

I have since given all the boxes concerned 3 coats, 1 primer and 2 top coats of exterior paint.

What I am planning on doing is isolating them to another apiary to ensure the sterilisation has actually worked.

Has anyone done the Chlorine sterilisation technique and is/has it been successful.

Regards

David.

[yantabulla]

David,

How did you not notice AFB in 12 hives?

If you use that method for sterilisation in QLD you are breaking the law.

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/bees/diseases-and-pests/american-foulbrood/control-methods-american-foulbrood

AFB is endemic in Austraila.  Please be responsible and follow the guidelines recommended by DAF QLD.

You are a long way from me so I don't give a bugger what you do.

Steritech is just up road in Brisbane. Get your gear irradiated and you won't be left guessing.

Sorry about the humbug but this sort of thing just gives me the s&@t$

[KeyLargoBees]

I so love aussie posts ;-)

[GSF]

If I had AFB, I'd probably burn. It's not worth the risk. A box & frames is just a few bucks, reoccurring AFB could be a nightmare. Sorry for the bad luck.

[Eric Bosworth]

I would either burn everything or wax dip my hives. That would  both sterilize and protect the wood. I think the law where I live says burn it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[Wombat2]

Chlorine won't kill spores so you could get another flare up.  Steritech irradiation is the only other way other than burning.  You would be better off saving your bees and destroying or irradiating your woodwork.

Couple of our club members are trying the European method with AFB by setting up a new hive with brood from a clean hive. Catching the queen then take the infected hive about 100m away - shake out all the bees and take away the hardware for treatment. The healthy bees in the hive return to the original site with the new hive - replace the queen and your production is only set back a few weeks instead of written off.  So far there has been no repeated AFB in the hive.

[herbhome]

That sounds interesting. In Arkansas, if memory serves me right, one is required to destroy the colony and burn and bury the hive.

[Richard M]

Chlorine won't kill spores so you could get another flare up.  Steritech irradiation is the only other way other than burning.  You would be better off saving your bees and destroying or irradiating your woodwork.

Couple of our club members are trying the European method with AFB by setting up a new hive with brood from a clean hive. Catching the queen then take the infected hive about 100m away - shake out all the bees and take away the hardware for treatment. The healthy bees in the hive return to the original site with the new hive - replace the queen and your production is only set back a few weeks instead of written off.  So far there has been no repeated AFB in the hive.

Is that legal? You're required to kill the colony and burn the hive here in Tas.

[Wombat2]

Chlorine won't kill spores so you could get another flare up.  Steritech irradiation is the only other way other than burning.  You would be better off saving your bees and destroying or irradiating your woodwork.

Couple of our club members are trying the European method with AFB by setting up a new hive with brood from a clean hive. Catching the queen then take the infected hive about 100m away - shake out all the bees and take away the hardware for treatment. The healthy bees in the hive return to the original site with the new hive - replace the queen and your production is only set back a few weeks instead of written off.  So far there has been no repeated AFB in the hive.

Is that legal? You're required to kill the colony and burn the hive here in Tas.

Technically illegal - but being done with DPI interest - based on research that apparently all hives have a level of AFB present but requires the alignment of 3 or more criteria to break out (forgotten what they are - but something like humidity hive stress levels of bacteria etc) bit like being in a room full of people with the flu and you don't catch it but sit next to the one person on the bus for one stop and you come down with it.

As pointed out it is endemic and is a case of not IF but WHEN you get an infected hive. Maybe the powers are starting to think we cant stop it but there maybe a way to minimize the cost and still keep it under control  - bit like SBH - we are supposed to notify SHB infestations - have you been doing that? OK there was a SHB survey with this years renewal notice but that was the first time.

[Richard M]

Chlorine won't kill spores so you could get another flare up.  Steritech irradiation is the only other way other than burning.  You would be better off saving your bees and destroying or irradiating your woodwork.

Couple of our club members are trying the European method with AFB by setting up a new hive with brood from a clean hive. Catching the queen then take the infected hive about 100m away - shake out all the bees and take away the hardware for treatment. The healthy bees in the hive return to the original site with the new hive - replace the queen and your production is only set back a few weeks instead of written off.  So far there has been no repeated AFB in the hive.

Is that legal? You're required to kill the colony and burn the hive here in Tas.

Technically illegal - but being done with DPI interest - based on research that apparently all hives have a level of AFB present but requires the alignment of 3 or more criteria to break out (forgotten what they are - but something like humidity hive stress levels of bacteria etc) bit like being in a room full of people with the flu and you don't catch it but sit next to the one person on the bus for one stop and you come down with it.

As pointed out it is endemic and is a case of not IF but WHEN you get an infected hive. Maybe the powers are starting to think we cant stop it but there maybe a way to minimize the cost and still keep it under control.

Fair enough - it's good that your DPI people are prepared to allow a bit of reasonable experimentation.

[jayj200]

after irradiating your woodwork.did the new bees glow

[Acebird]

They would glow if they consumed something that was radioactive.  If you are exposed to radioactivity you do not glow.  Do you understand that you are exposed to radioactivity every day of your life and the more that global warming takes affect you will be exposed to more radioactivity.  Do you glow?

[KeyLargoBees]

Did they ban you from Beesource finally Ace?