unwanted bugs

[Desdemona]

So, I have a critter container with roughly 20 superworm beetles in it. I've seen a couple of instances where it looks like a couple are mating, but for the most part they seem to just be running about and taking up space. I haven't been trying to set them up for breeding or anything, just throwing in occasional carrots to keep them from starving to death (since that seems a bit cruel). They have baby food sub-strait though I don't think it's editable anymore. I plan on cleaning the thing out tomorrow (its just a small critter cage).

So, would they be worth keeping or should I get rid of them? I tried to give them away on the classified section of the board but no one replied. I don't have anything that can eat them so is there a humane way to kill them?

Suggestions? I was thinking about just putting them in the freezer, but I don't know if that's as "kind" on bugs as it is on geckos. Or, do you think keeping them would be worth what little trouble they are? If there have been any eggs laid I can't see them. Of course if I clean out the sub-strait and there are eggs.... they would then be in the trash.

 

[tastyworms]

Freezing them is a humane way to kill them. Some people throw them into a pot of boiling water, but personally, I don't like watching them die .

 

[Desdemona]

I don't think I want boiled bug. The freezer sounds like a better idea. Thanks for the reply!

 

[gothra]

Put them in a plastic bag then spray with insecticide, tide the bag and throw it out. That's how I do it, they die immediately.

 

[BadKelpie]

If you want to save any eggs or baby worms, clean out the cage, sift the substrate, save the sifted stuff in a jar or tub or something. About a month later, sift that again, and you'll have little worms.

Honestly, crushing the bugs will kill them faster than freezing, but freezing should be pretty painless for bugs as well.

 

[Desdemona]

I did end up freezing them. Though I guess I could have just taken them outside and stomped on them. I didn't see any eggs, though I suppose there could have been some. They were beetles from the superworms, vs smaller mealies, so I think I would have seen them.