Biosecurity is one of the simplest and most effective ways beekeepers can reduce the spread of diseases. Many honey bee diseases persist in wax, comb and hive materials for long periods, making contaminated equipment a major source for reinfection. Keeping up with biosecurity practices in the hive, through regular cleaning, disinfecting tools and sanitizing equipment, helps prevent pathogens from moving between colonies and supports long-term colony health. This includes everything from flaming hive tools to washing bee suits and gloves, because any surface that comes into contact with wax, honey, brood, or debris may carry infectious material.

Biosecurity Practices for Healthier Honey Bee Colonies

Biosecurity begins with understanding how long pathogens can survive in hive materials. Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema) spores, for example, can be killed by heating hive tools to 60°C for 15 minutes or combs to 49°C for 24 hours¹. These spores can survive for a year or more outside of the host, so contaminated equipment can reinfect colonies if equipment is not properly disinfected ¹. Fumigation with 80% acetic acid is recommended to fully eliminate Vairimorpha spores ¹. There will be more information about fumigating hives in a future blog post.

American foulbrood (AFB), caused by Paenibacillus larvae, is even more resilient. AFB spores can survive for decades in hive materials and persist in wax, propolis, and honey for up to 80 years^2,3. AFB spores in wax can be destroyed at 121°C for 30 minutes ².Scorching wooden equipment with a blowtorch is a common practice, but this method does not destroy all spores². While flame sterilization and chemical cleaning remove most microorganisms, AFB spores are extremely resistant, and common disinfectants such as acetic acid and bleach do not reliably eliminate them⁴. In confirmed AFB cases, the only effective solution is to euthanize the colony and dispose of all contaminated equipment. 

Although European foulbrood (EFB) is not spore-forming, it can remain viable in comb for years, and contaminated equipment can contribute to the spread of disease between colonies⁵. Regular cleaning and sanitizing of hive tools, smokers, gloves, and supers can reduce the transmission of EFB⁶.

 Figure 1: Blowtorch and hive tools (ATTTA ©, 2022)

Flaming hive tools is essential to prevent cross-contamination because these tools frequently contact wax, brood frames, and debris. Metal hive tools reach sterilizing temperatures much more rapidly under a propane torch, because propane flames exceed 1000°C, applying heat until wax and propolis residues burn off is sufficient to kill AFB or Vairimorpha spores on metal surfaces^1,2,7.

Protective clothing such as bee suits and gloves can also contribute to disease transmission, as they frequently encounter brood frames, wax, honey and other debris. Equipment and clothing should be cleaned thoroughly after use in an apiary to reduce the risk of spreading pathogens⁴. Washing bee suits regularly and replacing gloves helps prevent spores, bacteria, and parasites from moving between colonies or apiaries. Disposable gloves are a great way to minimize spread of disease between colonies. These simple hygiene practices support stronger colonies.

Figure 2: Beekeeping with disposable gloves (ATTTA ©, 2025)

Biosecurity works best when practiced consistently rather than only in response to disease. Many pathogens persist in wax, comb, and hive debris for long periods, so routine sanitation, cleaning hive tools, washing protective clothing, sterilizing equipment between apiaries, and removing contaminated materials all greatly reduce the risk of transmission. These small, regular steps help maintain healthier colonies and strengthen disease prevention throughout the apiary.

Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

References:

1. Stainton, K., 2018. Recent Research on Nosema. National Bee Unit. Available at: https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/articles_reports/BBKA_news/BBKA_59_Recent_research_on_Nosema_BBKA_18.pdf (Accessed 26 August 2026).

2. Hansen, H. and Brødsgaard, C.J., 1999. American foulbrood: a review of its biology, diagnosis and control. Bee World, 80(1), pp.5-23. 

3. Sammataro, D. and Avitabile, A. 2021. A Beekeeper’s Handbook: Fifth Edition. Cornell University Press

4. Meredith, B., Parkinson, B. and Walker Bravo, A., 2024. Thriving Hives: Cleaning and Sterilizing Beekeeping Equipment.

5.  León-Door, A.P., Pérez-Ordóñez, G., Romo-Chacón, A., Rios-Velasco, C., Órnelas-Paz, J.D., Zamudio-Flores, P.B. and Acosta-Muñiz, C.H., 2020. Pathogenesis, epidemiology and variants of Melissococcus plutonius (Ex White), the causal agent of European foulbrood. Journal of Apicultural Science, 64(2), pp.173-188.

6. Government of Alberta, 2021. European Foulbrood. Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/3df95a52-ed96-4ae7-96d6-f4944ecc63bf/resource/17048d92-ac45-42ce-b74b-9afd6528c5b2/download/af-european-foulbrood-fact-sheet-2021-03.pdf (Accessed: 17 August 2026). 

7. Construction Safety Nova Scotia (n.d.) Propane torch – safe work practices. Available at: https://constructionsafetyns.ca/safe_work_practices/propane-torch/ (Accessed: 13 August 2026).