Beetle specimens have been collected and sent to various labs for identification. At this point, there is the hope that the 47 packages can be contained and the introduction controlled. We know very little about the potential success of the beetles in a climate such as the temperate climate in Ohio. The beetles are tropical in nature and may not be able to survive Ohio winters. The adult beetle and its larvae are very destructive, eat bee brood and honey, and make a slimy mess out of the hive.
Bees frequently abscond.
All beetles are not bad beetles. ODA officials have just received permission to use Coumophos under a Section 18 EPA label to control this South African beetle. Presently, the beetle has been found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. At this point, little is known about the future seriousness of this beetle. At this point, very little more is known.