Cigar Beetles

[PoohBore]

Had an email today from cheaphumidors.com containing this advice :
The eggs of the beetle are smaller than the eye can see and are frequently in the cigars you smoke. Nothing happens to them unless the temperature in your humidor gets up to 72 degrees, and then they can hatch.
The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to make sure your humidor is in a cool, dry place. Another option is to freeze your cigars for a few days, then let them thaw slowly, putting them your humidor. This will kill all the eggs before they can hatch.
If you find that you've been infected, remove all the bad cigars and toss them. Take the rest of your cigars out of your humidor, and ensure they are lower than 72 degrees or freeze them. Some people will even freeze their humidor to make sure the eggs in the cedar are killed.
With a little know-how and a close eye, you can make sure you never get infested with the beetle.

[cj121]

Almost every single stick has eggs in there somewhere. The cigar beetle is a busy little fugger when it comes to profusely laying eggs. Ever hear a slight crack, or pop when you're working a stick: that's an egg. Check your ash from time to time, you may see tiny little round bits that are completely combusted, they're eggs! Previous posts about the temp are right, tha'ts why I was asking Dale. I haven't popped back on the sites I read, but from memory, if you keep the max temp down to below mid-seventies and maintain a not too high RH (mid-seventies over a period of time is pushing it) you'll not get probs with the little fuggers hatching. If you've heard all this before folks, sorry.

A combination of it getting too moist and too warm, gets things going in a procreational way: bit like us humans!

Been sitting on this pic for a while, but it seems the right time to air it
Lasioderma-serricorne.jpg

Depending on how long you've had 'em, it may be that you've a case for reimbursement/replacement Dale.

[daverave999]

Sounds like you've caught it in time thankfully.

I've read various views on freezing ranging from some saying you can smoke them from frozen with no ill effects right through to don't do it. I'd certainly be freezing mine if it was that or having them eaten from the inside out!

I've got an academic paper on freezing to kill tobacco beetles if anyone would like a copy? PM me.

[cj121]

Hi,

The name's Andy, I've been lurking here a while and haven't posted an intro yet but this thread caught my attention.
You say "micro insects", if they were white and very tiny, that is, grain of salt size, you're dealing with wood mites.
If they are brown, easily visible (1-2 mm diameter) they're tobacco beetles.
Wood mites won't harm your cigars but are only marginally less annoying.

Hi Andy, pop intointrosandintro your good self sometime mate. Catchya later.

[Deano]

Interesting to think we have to fend off wood mites too!
I suspect these are definitely cigar beetles though...

Thanks for posting Ryan.

[larrysputnik]

Sorry to hear about this Dale.

It's strange though since there is a new method for treating cigars. Almost all factories now spray cigars with a pesticide that kills the beetles and then completely dissipates into the air before the cigars leave the factory. That's why beetle outbreaks are even less common than they ever were. Curious.

[Mr Moore]

Only just started reading this thread, wow. sorry to hear that dale.

[Deano]

I suppose the spray doesn't stop further infestation at another distro?

[TJCoro]

...and the eggs, senor?

Sorry to hear about this Dale.

It's strange though since there is a new method for treating cigars. Almost all factories now spray cigars with a pesticide that kills the beetles and then completely dissipates into the air before the cigars leave the factory. That's why beetle outbreaks are even less common than they ever were. Curious.

What about the eggs, Mr. Larry ? Does the pesticide kills those, too?

[whisky77]

Misfortune.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune Cohiba IV.
It just goes to show that you have to be carefull with your temp and humidity, or it can all go pear shaped.Hopefully you have nipped it in the bud.

[larrysputnik]

What about the eggs, Mr. Larry ? Does the pesticide kills those, too?

From what I've read it kills everything. Except of course the Octomom's eggs. They're invincible.

[nicwing]

Go on then spaceman, I'm 'credulous as Hell' so hit me, Octomom's Eggs whassat?

[Stevieboy]

From what I've read it kills everything. Except of course the Octomom's eggs. They're invincible.

LOL Larry !! Nice one

[cj121]

Here she is. Don't let her get over humidified at any cost

[daverave999]

You've met my girlfriend then?