Hello and Top of the Mornin to you all. I wanted to ask if anyone knows anything about Beetles eating Cigars. I just got a box of Romeo Y Julietta back from Spain, and when I opened the box, there were small holes in quite a lot of the cigars. On closer inspection, I found some tiny beetles in the box, and found one cigar with a small white grub near one end, which I'm supposing is boring into the cigar. Anyone know a "cure" or can I just incinerate them when I smoke them, or are they ruined and need to be thrown out?
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- Thread starter Celt_Ginger
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Welcome to the AmBack/Cigar.com forums. I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. The procedure involves freezing the undamaged cigars, or those with minimal damage, but I'm not well versed in the complete process. What obviously happened was that the cigars reached a point of overhumidification and possibly even the temperature got too high, hence the hatching of the beetle eggs.
I would stick around here and wait for a reply, because we have some very knowledgeable folks on board. If not, in a couple of days try going to http://www.cigarwise.com. There are a bunch of old friends over there who are some of the most hardcore cigar people around. I'm sure you'll get your answers here before the day is out though.
I would stick around here and wait for a reply, because we have some very knowledgeable folks on board. If not, in a couple of days try going to http://www.cigarwise.com. There are a bunch of old friends over there who are some of the most hardcore cigar people around. I'm sure you'll get your answers here before the day is out though.
Pitch the box and for gods sake keep the infected cigars away from the good or minimal ones. Get the good ones and freeze them for 12 hourse then transition to the fridge for 24 hours so the temperature does not shock them in the thaw process. This will freeze any larva. Once in the humidor give it at least 2 weeks before smoking. Hot to cold for cigars is not bad but if you heat up cold cigars to fast they will crack and cause irrepairable damage. Beetles hatch once the at 80 degrees. Most cuban manufacturers freeze there cigars during to production process to prevent against this so you might want to double check the source and authenticity of the smokes. Just a heads up.
By the way, beetles have been known to hatch WAY lower than 80 degrees. There was a discussion about this on another thread wherein I advised someone not to let the temperature get too much above 73. Another poster made note that they can hatch in the upper 60's. I disputed this and he provided evidence that they can. That's one reason why I recommend lower humidity levels, like 60-65%, because it's hard to keep a humidor at a temperature of less than 73, therefore lower humidity levels will not only let cigars burn better when smoked, but provide better insurance against beetle infestations.
Also, for cigars with a preponderance of Cuban and Nicaraguan tobacco, lower humidity levels are better.
Also, for cigars with a preponderance of Cuban and Nicaraguan tobacco, lower humidity levels are better.
Hello, and Thanks for your speedy response and advice. I take it that and eggs or larve will not poison me if I smoke the lightly infested cigars? There are about 7 cigars that are badly eaten, which, much as it breaks my heart, I will probably destroy, but the rest are either showing no sign, or are only lightly infested. Please tell me I won't get poisoned if I smoke them.
Fire those suckers up. There is typically larva in all cigars we just dont know about it. It is perfectly fine and it wont harm you.
Bloof thanks for the 411 on Beetles hatching. While I have not had it happen below 80 degrees I will most certainly take your word for it.
Bloof thanks for the 411 on Beetles hatching. While I have not had it happen below 80 degrees I will most certainly take your word for it.
Well, my word has only really come from other people's experience and research, but the stories I've heard have been so horrible that I'd rather err on the side of caution. That's why I don't go running down the street screaming the world is coming to an end when my humidors drop down to 55-60% humidity like they are now. I often wonder what people get so scared about or think will happen when they drop that low.
Your cap will shred yes, but it will burn better, you'll be even more insured against beetles and they'll just age a bit faster. When the weather warms up and my gas heat furnace isn't coming on so often, the humidity levels will go back up to the desired 65-70% and occasionally even higher, and the birds will sing again. :roll:
So, back on the subject of beetles, yes, rather than watch a tragedy which may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars for some collectors, by all means cigars should not be stored at temperatures above 72 degrees and don't get like some people who worry when their humidity levels go down that your cigars are going to "get spoiled." It just doesn't happen. If you stop tending your humidors and the humidity level gets down to 20% for several years, they may indeed be spoiled, but for you folks like me who get down to 55-60% in the winter because of your heating systems, relax and light up.
You'll have a lot less beetles than The Church Of The Seventy Percenters.
Last, but certainly not least, yes, unless beetles are crawling all over a cigar, if it just has a few holes in it, go ahead and smoke it. Wash your mouth after the smoke is over if you feel like it, but don't worry, you're not going to get sick.
One last very funny thing, because it's happened to me with cigars that had been damaged by beetles, is this:
Don't be surprised during the smoke if you see smoke coming out of one or more of those holes. :cryinlaugh: That's right, I'm not kidding. Then you've got yourself a carbuerator cigar. :sm_angel:
umpkin:
Your cap will shred yes, but it will burn better, you'll be even more insured against beetles and they'll just age a bit faster. When the weather warms up and my gas heat furnace isn't coming on so often, the humidity levels will go back up to the desired 65-70% and occasionally even higher, and the birds will sing again. :roll:
So, back on the subject of beetles, yes, rather than watch a tragedy which may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars for some collectors, by all means cigars should not be stored at temperatures above 72 degrees and don't get like some people who worry when their humidity levels go down that your cigars are going to "get spoiled." It just doesn't happen. If you stop tending your humidors and the humidity level gets down to 20% for several years, they may indeed be spoiled, but for you folks like me who get down to 55-60% in the winter because of your heating systems, relax and light up.
You'll have a lot less beetles than The Church Of The Seventy Percenters.
Last, but certainly not least, yes, unless beetles are crawling all over a cigar, if it just has a few holes in it, go ahead and smoke it. Wash your mouth after the smoke is over if you feel like it, but don't worry, you're not going to get sick.
One last very funny thing, because it's happened to me with cigars that had been damaged by beetles, is this:
Don't be surprised during the smoke if you see smoke coming out of one or more of those holes. :cryinlaugh: That's right, I'm not kidding. Then you've got yourself a carbuerator cigar. :sm_angel:
umpkin:I'll add my .02
If you are going to freeze them, make sure to double bag.
Freezer can really dry out a cigar so use two bags and
suck the air out.
I would leave them in the freezer for 48 hour, I say this, but!
Most freezer don't get cold enough for a quick freeze.
If you have a zero degree freezer 24 hours will work.
But most home freezers do not go that low.
Maybe see if it is set to low and turn it to low if it is not.
And make sure to bring the temperture up slowly as stated above.
into the fridge and then to room (humidor) temp after.
I would put those smokes into a tupperware or something other than
with your other cigars.
Just to be safe.
CC [/b]
If you are going to freeze them, make sure to double bag.
Freezer can really dry out a cigar so use two bags and
suck the air out.
I would leave them in the freezer for 48 hour, I say this, but!
Most freezer don't get cold enough for a quick freeze.
If you have a zero degree freezer 24 hours will work.
But most home freezers do not go that low.
Maybe see if it is set to low and turn it to low if it is not.
And make sure to bring the temperture up slowly as stated above.
into the fridge and then to room (humidor) temp after.
I would put those smokes into a tupperware or something other than
with your other cigars.
Just to be safe.
CC [/b]
Quarantine?
When adding newly obtained cigars to the collection would it be advisable, or at least okay, to give them a preemptive freezing? Kind of sending them through quarantine before adding them to the humidor and running the risk of infestation? Thanks.
When adding newly obtained cigars to the collection would it be advisable, or at least okay, to give them a preemptive freezing? Kind of sending them through quarantine before adding them to the humidor and running the risk of infestation? Thanks.
Re: Quarantine?
I have heard of people doing this.
I don't.
I am careful to keep my humidor in a cool spot and never let the humidity get to high.
I had posted on another board, that with peple learning about Cuban cigars that possible fake cubans can be a real source for bettles and people should be careful.
Most domestic brand (of quality) take steps to prevent bettles, but there is always a danger.
Also it seems bettles always go for the best you have!
Greedy little bastards like the good stuff :twisted:
SO not sure if I answered your question?
I don't some do!
VicomteJake said:
I have heard of people doing this.
I don't.
I am careful to keep my humidor in a cool spot and never let the humidity get to high.
I had posted on another board, that with peple learning about Cuban cigars that possible fake cubans can be a real source for bettles and people should be careful.
Most domestic brand (of quality) take steps to prevent bettles, but there is always a danger.
Also it seems bettles always go for the best you have!
Greedy little bastards like the good stuff :twisted:
SO not sure if I answered your question?
I don't some do!