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Old 05-15-2004, 05:13 AM   #1
hawkan2580
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beetles, is it humidity or temperature causing outbread?

Has anyone really determined the couse of outbreaks of the buggers? Is it temperature or is it humidity that couses the outbreak and the eggs to hatch? In Australia, we live in temperatures that most time is over 80 closer to 90 and I have never had an outbreak. I am really vigilant in controlling humidity levels in the humidor and keep this at around 65-68%. The outside humidity is often 80-90%. Spoke to my tobacconist about this and he supports the theory about the humidity being the cause,but we have no scientific data in supporting this. Any one know for sure? I've been trying to research on the net and it seems to be a fairly even split with who believes what theory.

To be on the safe side, I have beetle traps placed in strategic places but so far, no signs of them... am I just lucky?
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Old 05-15-2004, 05:19 AM   #2
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It's temperature. A few days above 75 degrees or there abouts will cause eggs that are already in the cigars to hatch. Humidity isn't a big issue to the beetles.
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Old 05-15-2004, 05:46 AM   #3
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Well that is sort of my point. The temperature here is normally way over that. We probably have 1 month of the year under 75. The rest of the year is over, still no beetles???
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Old 05-15-2004, 06:13 AM   #4
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Sevenmag is correct, it is temperature. They need warmth in order to hatch the eggs, the same way a chicken needs to sit on her eggs in order for them to hatch. It seems a constant temperature above 75-78 for more than 5-7 days will do the trick. Humidity has nothing to do with the issue.
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Old 05-15-2004, 06:25 AM   #5
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If there are no egg larvae, then no matter how hot it gets, there'll no beetle outbreak.
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Old 05-15-2004, 06:31 AM   #6
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Very true, but every manufacturer of cigars have them. The important thing is to take steps to make sure that it doesn't occur. All of the large manufactures have preventative measures in their factories that kill eggs, larvae, etc as much as possible. Some of the smaller companies do not and thus you really have to watch the product. That is not to say that even the best steps to prevent it will make it fail safe.
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Old 05-15-2004, 06:32 AM   #7
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that constant temperature with over 75 is the norm here for 11 months out of a year, no beetles for years and years... could it be that they need both humidity and high temp? So that the reason I don't have had any beetles even with high temps, is because I managed to controll humidity?????
I don't mean to offend, dissagree or stirr someone up. But the argument that you'll get beetles when temp is over 75 -80 for a week or so just don't seem right as I have those temps for months with approx 500-600 sticks from all over the world and no beetles.
When you, unlucky ones, who have had outbreaks had them, was the humidity under controll the whole time or did it go up together with the temp just before the outbreak?
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Old 05-15-2004, 06:36 AM   #8
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Sorry guys, the last 2 posts were not there when I wrote my last post.. It might just be that I have been blessed with no larvaes......
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Old 05-15-2004, 08:51 AM   #9
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Do you have an air conditioner? If it's not 75 or over inside the house it'll never be a problem.

I used to lose a handful of cigars every year, but since I started freezing I don't have anymore trouble.

Trust me, if you're house or where ever you're storing gets warm enough for long enough, one day you're gonna lose a cigar or two. It's just inevitable, happens to everyone at some point.
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Old 05-15-2004, 10:50 AM   #10
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Interesting point hawkan. Like the question above, is your inside temperature above 75 degrees all the time???? If temperature is high all the time, maybe, few boxes have the beetle outbreak way before they reach the customers.
From what I have noticed, there is more outbreaks if the temperature fluctuates a lot, like jump starts them or so,...but also seen outbreaks at 70 degrees or even below.

Now regarding the humidity, it has to be extreme dry to play some role in it, however, estimated found at 40 percent and lower, which would already have killed your cigars anyway. At those extreme low humidity the larva, or grub, after the expensive munching, also dries out during pupa stage.
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