Superworms, how to trap them?

cwatkins

New member
Soo,
I have moved into a new apartment that I am subletting from someone else for the summer for work..
I had some superworms kept in a large butter container with holes on the top for air (not large, just drove the tip of the knife through it). However, Hades finally started accepting crickets again (a while ago actually, he is doing great! Just caught him in the middle of a shed which was a wee bit awkward for the both of us...:coverlaugh:) so I stopped feeding the superworms since I knew they weren't the healthiest.
I have been hearing these "chewing" sounds coming from the wall in a particular area that sounded similar to the chewing sounds I heard coming from his Styrofoam background that he originally came with that had superworms all through it (I bought him from a previous owner, not a store). And I am beginning to believe that some superworms have escaped into the wall now... To top off this paranoia I am having about it there are now chewn holes in the lid that I just discovered a few days ago..
I am wondering if there is any way to lure these supers out or should I just leave them alone and hope they died soon?
Also, I cant distinguish is the sound is coming from the wall by the heater, or the heater itself, so I am scared they may do some electrical damage or something, and since the place isn't under my name that I am renting I want to fix this asap if it is a danger...
So any ideas?
Thanks :D
 

cwatkins

New member
Or do you know any way I could kill them in there without having to call someone or dismantle the heater?
Do you guys think taking a hair dryer and blowing the hot air on the heat would kill it? Or would that make it go further into the wall if possible?
The heater will not turn on itself since it is summer time, and the apartment is warm enough on its own without the thermostat turning on the heaters.
 

acpart

Well-known member
They're pretty hard to get out once they've "wormed" themselves into a small space. I hate to say it, but your best bet is to wait till the chewing noises stop and then in a few weeks, start looking for and removing these really big beetles. Happened to me once as well. As you can see (and I found out years ago) they chew through plastic.

Aliza
 

cwatkins

New member
They're pretty hard to get out once they've "wormed" themselves into a small space. I hate to say it, but your best bet is to wait till the chewing noises stop and then in a few weeks, start looking for and removing these really big beetles. Happened to me once as well. As you can see (and I found out years ago) they chew through plastic.

Aliza

Oh frig... Great hah.
Do you think they will cause any damage to the walls or the electrical? Like should I be worried?
Also.. How long did yours take to turn into beetles, and do they come out once they do? I want to get them all gone by the end of August when I move out..
Thanks!
 

acpart

Well-known member
They generally don't morph unless they're isolated, but loose in the house they will probably end up being isolated. They will probably all be either beetles or dead by the end of August. No guarantee about the wiring --they do chew, but I had a squirrel stuck in my eaves for a month chewing away and the wiring was left intact.

Aliza
 

Conched

New member
You could use an insect fogger. The pesticide gasses will creep into the walls if you take off the face plates nearest the problem area.

Needless to say you will need to take safety precautions with your animals.
 
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