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Beetles
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jrc9414 Offline
#1 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:06 AM EST
Joined: 04-08-2003
Posts: 177
About two weeks ago I noticed two cigars in my dad's humidor that had beetle holes in the wrappers. I removed those cigars and inspected the others very carefully.

This past weekend I found one more cigar with a large beetle hole in the wrapper. FYI- this cigar was in cello.

Do the beetle's enter the foot of the cigar and exit the wrapper or do they simply enter through the wrapper?

Also, he doesn't want to throw all of his cigars away (he did smoke the last one) but he also doesn't want his cigars looking like swiss cheese. Suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jim
sketcha Offline
#2 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:16 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
I think normally the beetles eggs are already in the cigars. They hatch when the temp. gets up over 73-75 or so. Did your temp get up in that zone? Some cigars have the eggs, are kept under 72 degrees, the eggs never hatch and people smoke 'em without ever knowing. Keep your temp. under 72.

Now if you're talking about spreading to other stoges, someone with more experience will have to weigh in on that. If you're talking about beetle holes in different batches, then they are likely spreading.

Bummer!
Lowman Offline
#3 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:17 AM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 6,982
Cigar beetles are inside the cigar to begin with... Of course not ALL cigars. They eat their way out !!

If there are eggs inside the tobacco, they can possibly hatch when there is a large increase in tempature and/or humidity.

If you do a search, I'm sure you will find some posts on this topic.

Low
Lowman Offline
#4 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:17 AM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 6,982
Ooops... sketcha types faster than I do... hehehe
sketcha Offline
#5 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:21 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Sorry Low. They forced typing on me back in High School ('87 or so).

Can they spread Low?
octowings Offline
#6 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:26 AM EST
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 390
what low said

...written by mccartney / lennon
or is that lennon / mccartney
Lowman Offline
#7 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:30 AM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 6,982
Now you're pushing it... I don't know..

I'm sure someone else will chime in...

Low
jrc9414 Offline
#8 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:33 AM EST
Joined: 04-08-2003
Posts: 177
The latest victim was a Padron 2000. Were the beetle eggs inside the cigar when I purchased it?

I know exactly where the problem originated. He bought a box of Monte #2's from an island that were way too cheap...that's what he gets for trying to get save a buck!

No doubt my dad doesn't keep an eye on his humidity level like he should...that's why I was checking his humidor when I found these beetles.

Thanks again guys.
Jim
lenny4z Offline
#9 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:43 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2002
Posts: 297
Sounds kinda like my dad. He still has an unopened box of Ashton chirchills in his living room. It's been sitting out in the open (unhumidified) since x-mas. I've stopped buying him good cigars because he doesn't take care of them.

As for the beetles, from what I've read elsewhere, they can in fact spread to other cigars if not dealt with. When they hatch, they'll eat whatever is around. If he keeps his temp and humidity low enough (not too low, 70/70 is low enough) then he should not have a problem.

-Lenny
efm Offline
#10 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:48 AM EST
Joined: 01-23-2001
Posts: 499
You wanna freeze them little bastards. That's how you kill them. Search this board or look at one of the primers for instructions.
Slimboli Offline
#11 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 10:50 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Humidity isn't that big of a factor, but temperature is. Eggs (if they are present) will hatch if the temperature gets above the recommended 70 degrees ...

If one cigar has them and the beetle has already left (via the exit hole), all the cigars in the humidor are in jeopardy.

A good source of info is 'Cigar 101' ... and it's on the CigarsInternational web site.

Here's a link on what thay have to say about beetles:

http://www.cigarsinterna...om/html/cig101_7mob.asp

Cigar beetles hatch from eggs that are laid on the tobacco leaves. The curing and the manufacturing process kills many of the eggs, but sometimes a few survive.

The eggs hatch into worms that eat their way out of your cigar. They emerge as small brown beetles. The eggs usually will not hatch if the temperature in the humidor stays below 75 degrees.

How to prevent further attacks ---

The way to get rid of tobacco beetles is to freeze them. But don't just go popping your prize cigars in the freezer. There are steps you should follow to protect your cigars during the freezing process.

Place all the cigars from the affected humidor in ziplok freezer bags (double bag them if possible). Be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before closing the bag(s).

Place them in the freezer for three to four days, then place them in the refrigerator for one day.

Take them out of the refrigerator and leave them at room temperature for one day (still in the bag(s).

Thoroughly clean out the inside of your humidor with a vacuum cleaner (a small crevice tool will allow you to get into the corners of your humidor).

Take them out of the bag and place them back in your humidor.
mrkmitch Offline
#12 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 11:01 AM EST
Joined: 11-18-2002
Posts: 990
From what I understand (what I've read here) if you freeze your gars it will kill the eggs. So, to insure no cigar beetle infestation freeze all your cigars for a couple of days, then temper them by setting them in the refrig for a couple of days, then let them come to 'dor temp and re-install in you 'dor. You should not have any eggs alive to hatch if you do this.
jrc9414 Offline
#13 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 11:10 AM EST
Joined: 04-08-2003
Posts: 177
Thanks to all.

Jim
sketcha Offline
#14 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 11:46 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
I agree that TEMP, NOT humidity is key!

Tell me if I'm wrong but I don't think freezing your new cigars before installing them in your dor is a good policy. In your case, it's a necessity.

Anyone have a thought on this. Can freezing have any negative effect on the stoges.
sketcha Offline
#15 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 11:52 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
To be clear, I was referring to freezing as an insurance policy for folks with no problems. Is that a good idea? I wouldn't think so. Doesn't a freezer also draw out humidity?
Robby Offline
#16 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 12:31 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
"Suggestions would be appreciated." First, PANIC!!

The humidity "freezes" with the cigar. The fridge is bad for cigars, but good if you freeze them. I think it goes like this;

1. Freeze the hell out of them. (After wrapping them well in good freezer bags and getting out as much air as possible).

2. After 72 hrs in the freezer, put them in the fridge for a couple of days (keep in the bag), then as carefully/slowly as possible, back to room temp.

sketcha Offline
#17 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 12:35 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
I think the key here is "Good" freezer bags and as little air as possible. I still wouldn't do it as a preventive measure.
[email protected] Offline
#18 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 12:37 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
From my post back in January -

On another note: CIGAR BEETLES

As you all know, I recently found these bastards in my Avallo - to no avail - I couldn't catch them all and didn't want to 'deep-freeze' all of my premiums just for a 'precautionary' measure. I did freeze all that had holes in them (sealed them in 1 gallon Ziploc freezer bags) for a week - then 5 days in the fridge, and then went to re-introduce them into the Avallo. MORE HOLES though ... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo

I raised my humidity to 74% at 70 degrees - get them moving - and then placed a dish with 2lbs of Dry Ice in the Avallo - as the dry ice evaporated - it created a 'fog' effect in the humi and essentially 'fumigated' and/or froze (created a perma-frost effect) all through the inside. I added dry ice chunks 2x a day for 5 days about 2lbs each time and have yet to see any more beetles.

- note:

as the dry ice evaporates it releases carbon dioxide - so - either frozen or suffocated - no more beetles.

Mad Scientist? Maybe - but I was desperate and it worked (been 4 months now) and I've not had them back. Sadly enough, I should have done this with my premiums also - they would have faired better than the plastic bag & freezer routine.

- just my .02

Robby Offline
#19 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 4:16 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Jimmy, I know you vowed never to answer any more posts from me, but I'm hoping time heals wounds. I've never heard of the dried ice method of extermination and am intrigued by this. Did this freeze the cigars as well as fumigate them with CO2? I'm currious in case I ever (God forbid) get bugs in the Ploomidoor. I'm not sure it would take well to the temp change. I'd probably need to get a big igloo and gas um in there. What was the temp created by this method? I can ask as GOBP if that helps. Thanks.
justforfun Offline
#20 Posted: Mon, May 12 2003, 8:48 PM EST
Joined: 03-06-2002
Posts: 797
Can you just smoke the cigars???? Any side effects; if so, maybe I'll try this method :)
jrc9414 Offline
#21 Posted: Tue, May 13 2003, 6:12 AM EST
Joined: 04-08-2003
Posts: 177
from my experience...the burn and draw are drastically altered. my dad smoked that padron that was damaged and he had to cover the hole each time he took a drag to help the draw. not the way i want to smoke my cigar.

jim
Slimboli Offline
#22 Posted: Tue, May 13 2003, 6:24 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Yeah ... you can try and smoke the cigar by "playing it like a flute" (holding your fingers over the holes while you draw), but that's no fun.

There are Patch Kits available ... and work extremley well!
Robby Offline
#23 Posted: Tue, May 13 2003, 6:39 AM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Do the Bucs come with "Patch kits?"
rck_1 Offline
#24 Posted: Thu, May 15 2003, 6:54 AM EST
Joined: 01-28-2003
Posts: 656
Sketcha,
To answer your question about freezing. I freeze justabout everything I get. So far I have not had any issues with taste, burn, draw, etc. The key is to get good ziplock freezer bags, if you use regular ziplocks dbl bag them and as slim has said remove as much air as possible. A straw works great for removing the air!
3 days in the freeze.
1 day in the fridge,
1 day on the desk,
and back in the dor.
Fatshotbud Offline
#25 Posted: Thu, May 15 2003, 10:37 AM EST
Joined: 03-31-2003
Posts: 782
I am with rck, when in doubt freeze.
If you do not know the manufacturer and distributor have a good practice of beetle prevention "an ounce of prevention" may save a lot of heartache.
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