Cigar Weekly

gq319 · 03-04-2003, 05:11 AM

Hello Gentlemen,
Question about the infamous tobacco beetle. If the tempature of the humidor is high between 75 - 80F and the RH is low betweeen 60- 65
will these little suckers still hatch?

Best Regards,
Matt

Las Villas · 03-04-2003, 05:34 AM

good question....I really do not know...however I will try to maintain the temp a little lower....in the summer I have to leave my AC on all day....they begin hatching around that area 75-80 degress!!!

When I see my humis creaping over the 74 degree level, I start freaking out!!....could be me that I'm paranoid...LOL

I like to see it at 70 degrees or lower!!

monteman · 03-04-2003, 06:31 AM

Matt,

Beetles hatch due to temp - not the RH. 74 or 75 degrees seems to be the "hatching" temp but some members have reported beetles at lower temps

Denver · 03-04-2003, 12:27 PM

I have had a problem with them but it is usually in the upper 70 degree range. But the lowest problem was in the 60 degree range with two boxes of Vegas Robaina cigars

So in my experience these can hatch at almost any warm degree.

Shape · 03-04-2003, 01:21 PM

How common are these and what happens when they hatch?

Reason I ask is I keep it around 72 in my house year round but during the summer it can get hotter inside some days.

grtrx · 03-04-2003, 02:43 PM

they hatch. they eat your cigars. BUT

If they aren't there they can't hatch.

All tobacco is not infected. Some is.

DOn't make yourself crazy about this.

Keep them as cool as possible. Keep an eye on them.

Smoke your cigars...

fvfanmc · 03-04-2003, 02:47 PM

Agree with grtrx.

archmage · 03-04-2003, 06:23 PM

And, for a little peace of mind, you can freeze your cigars.

I had a beetle infestation rather early into this hobby, and when doing the research I found info that freezing the cigars can kill the eggs. Later I have read that my freezer isn't cold enough and that I don't freeze for long enough time, but haven't had any beetles since.

My freezing process goes:
- Pack the smokes in ziplock bags, with as little airspace as possible.
- Pack the ziplock bags in another ziplock bags (just to be sure).
- Put the bags in the freezer.
- After 3 days (72 hours) take them out of the freezer and put in the fridge.
- After 24 hours, take the bags to room temperature.
- After 12-24 hours, take the cigars out of the bags and put in humidor.

Even if it doesn't kill all the possible eggs, I'm happy to kill at least some of them, and reduce the risk of beetle infestation.

Shape · 03-04-2003, 07:34 PM

Does anyone have any more info on these beetles?

Say you just have one cigar with them and they hatch inside your dor. Will they infest all your cigars?

Freezing them sounds like a good idea and if your method doesn't damage your cigars, then I might try to do that.

archmage · 03-04-2003, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shape

Does anyone have any more info on these beetles?

Cigar Smoker's FAQ has good info: http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#7.4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shape

Say you just have one cigar with them and they hatch inside your dor. Will they infest all your cigars?

They will eat into the other cigars too. The one time I had them they hatched from a couple of cigars, and ate holes to a few closest to them. Noticed them early so the damage wasn't widespread, dunno how how bad they would have spread otherwise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shape

Freezing them sounds like a good idea and if your method doesn't damage your cigars, then I might try to do that.

Never had any damage to any cigar from freezing, and never noticed any difference in taste either. So in my experience it's safe.

03-04-2003, 05:11 AM	#1
gq319 Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 247	Tobacco Beetle Hello Gentlemen, Question about the infamous tobacco beetle. If the tempature of the humidor is high between 75 - 80F and the RH is low betweeen 60- 65 will these little suckers still hatch? Best Regards, Matt

03-04-2003, 05:34 AM	#2
Las Villas Herf Meister Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Northern, NJ USA Posts: 7,496	good question....I really do not know...however I will try to maintain the temp a little lower....in the summer I have to leave my AC on all day....they begin hatching around that area 75-80 degress!!! When I see my humis creaping over the 74 degree level, I start freaking out!!....could be me that I'm paranoid...LOL I like to see it at 70 degrees or lower!! __________________ "Only oppression should fear the full exercise of freedom." Jose Marti

03-04-2003, 02:43 PM	#6
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,579	they hatch. they eat your cigars. BUT If they aren't there they can't hatch. All tobacco is not infected. Some is. DOn't make yourself crazy about this. Keep them as cool as possible. Keep an eye on them. Smoke your cigars... __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

03-04-2003, 06:23 PM	#8
archmage Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 347	And, for a little peace of mind, you can freeze your cigars. I had a beetle infestation rather early into this hobby, and when doing the research I found info that freezing the cigars can kill the eggs. Later I have read that my freezer isn't cold enough and that I don't freeze for long enough time, but haven't had any beetles since. My freezing process goes: - Pack the smokes in ziplock bags, with as little airspace as possible. - Pack the ziplock bags in another ziplock bags (just to be sure). - Put the bags in the freezer. - After 3 days (72 hours) take them out of the freezer and put in the fridge. - After 24 hours, take the bags to room temperature. - After 12-24 hours, take the cigars out of the bags and put in humidor. Even if it doesn't kill all the possible eggs, I'm happy to kill at least some of them, and reduce the risk of beetle infestation. __________________ It is often said that those who smoke slowly, know how to enjoy the fine art of relaxation.

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03-04-2003, 06:31 AM	#3
monteman Club Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,781	Matt, Beetles hatch due to temp - not the RH. 74 or 75 degrees seems to be the "hatching" temp but some members have reported beetles at lower temps

03-04-2003, 12:27 PM	#4
Denver Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 129	I have had a problem with them but it is usually in the upper 70 degree range. But the lowest problem was in the 60 degree range with two boxes of Vegas Robaina cigars So in my experience these can hatch at almost any warm degree.

03-04-2003, 01:21 PM	#5
Shape Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 586	How common are these and what happens when they hatch? Reason I ask is I keep it around 72 in my house year round but during the summer it can get hotter inside some days.

03-04-2003, 02:47 PM	#7
fvfanmc Self Exiled Herf God Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Kearny, NJ Posts: 40,584	Agree with grtrx.

03-04-2003, 07:34 PM	#9
Shape Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 586	Does anyone have any more info on these beetles? Say you just have one cigar with them and they hatch inside your dor. Will they infest all your cigars? Freezing them sounds like a good idea and if your method doesn't damage your cigars, then I might try to do that.