Found Beetles in a Cigar

[Mitch]

First off, very isolated, I don't think the problem is beyond this single cigar that was tubed with cap on and the bettles didn't get out. Found a problem in one tube, all the other tubed cigars in the box is ok, checked all my trays and boxes and can't find a single reason to be concerned except this one cigar.

I opened up a Zino Tubed cigar today and found a flute with several mature large beetles crawling around on it. Puzzle is that these cigars have been stored in a temperature controled humi since last April. Now they were stored in a regular humidor before that and I didn't open each tube to check them when I purchased them, but I'm sure they haven't been over 70 degrees since last April. I keep my humidors at 65-68 degrees.

So, how did this happen? I didn't think eggs could hatch at these temperatures, and if the eggs had hatched before last April, I'd expect the bettles to be dead by now not moving around. Also, if the bettles had been alive for almost a year, I'd expect the cigar to be more dust than look like a cigar. Any ideas out there? Could the temperatures have gotten higher in the sealed tube some how?

I didn't think I had to worry about bettles as long as I had temperature under 70 degrees, what did I miss?

Anyway, I thought if the temp was kept low bettles were a non issue, not I'm woundering what happened.

 

[Hardcore]

Are the beetles the black dots?

 

[Mitch]

Are the beetles the black dots?

Nope those are the holes in the cigar from the tunnels they ate.

 

[Halcyon1]

The 2008 summer issue of Cigar Magazine has a very good article on tobacco beetles. It's titled "Hey! You've Got to Hide Your Smokes Away" by Frank Seltzer.
If you don't find the article send me a message and I'll post the info from the article.
Peace,
Halcyon1 (Bud)

 

[dpmrpa]

How do u get the temp down below 70 in the Humi. No matter what I do it hovers around 70-71 with the % at 69

 

[Mitch]

How do u get the temp down below 70 in the Humi. No matter what I do it hovers around 70-71 with the % at 69

I have two humidors a cabinet I made with a thermo electric cooling unit and a Vinotemp. Both have a thermostat I just set to the temperature I want.

 

[Mitch]

The 2008 summer issue of Cigar Magazine has a very good article on tobacco beetles. It's titled "Hey! You've Got to Hide Your Smokes Away" by Frank Seltzer.
If you don't find the article send me a message and I'll post the info from the article.
Peace,
Halcyon1 (Bud)

Thanks I remember it, and will go back and look through it, but it's not a general knowledge of bettles I'm hunting down, this cigar just has me woundering how it happened.

 

[dpmrpa]

I have a store bought Humi with a digital hygrometer(Hope I spelled that right). Any suggestions as to controlling the temp and humidity. What is the optimum temp and humidity that I am trying to acheive anyway?

 

[Hardcore]

I have a store bought Humi with a digital hygrometer(Hope I spelled that right). Any suggestions as to controlling the temp and humidity. What is the optimum temp and humidity that I am trying to acheive anyway?

70/70, but I personally like to keep my humidity around 65-68

 

[dpmrpa]

First off, very isolated, I don't think the problem is beyond this single cigar that was tubed with cap on and the bettles didn't get out. Found a problem in one tube, all the other tubed cigars in the box is ok, checked all my trays and boxes and can't find a single reason to be concerned except this one cigar.

I opened up a Zino Tubed cigar today and found a flute with several mature large beetles crawling around on it. Puzzle is that these cigars have been stored in a temperature controled humi since last April. Now they were stored in a regular humidor before that and I didn't open each tube to check them when I purchased them, but I'm sure they haven't been over 70 degrees since last April. I keep my humidors at 65-68 degrees.

So, how did this happen? I didn't think eggs could hatch at these temperatures, and if the eggs had hatched before last April, I'd expect the bettles to be dead by now not moving around. Also, if the bettles had been alive for almost a year, I'd expect the cigar to be more dust than look like a cigar. Any ideas out there? Could the temperatures have gotten higher in the sealed tube some how?

I didn't think I had to worry about bettles as long as I had temperature under 70 degrees, what did I miss?

Anyway, I thought if the temp was kept low bettles were a non issue, not I'm woundering what happened.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,231,00.html
I went to this site and found some info. I started checking my sticks.:applause:

 

[dpmrpa]

70/70, but I personally like to keep my humidity around 65-68

Hey HC whats new. How do I get it to that point. Is it adding more distilled H20 or leaving the lid open for a while.

 

[Asher]

Hey HC whats new. How do I get it to that point. Is it adding more distilled H20 or leaving the lid open for a while.

Humidity beads are the easiest way to maintain consistent humidity:

http://heartfeltindustries.com/categories.asp?cat=11
http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8

 

[Cigary43]

You have by now probably received tons of explanation already,,be glad it was in a tube and not laying around having cigar sex in your humi and letting all of the little suckers spread their ilk. Hope you have a handle on it by now,,,been there done that!

 

[Halcyon1]

Good question. I googled the life cycle and found lots of information. The only answer I can come up with is that there can be several different stages of life cycles going on at once. This seems like the only way the beetles could have lived as long as they did in the tube.
Good Luck,
Halcyon1

 

[dpmrpa]

Humidity beads are the easiest way to maintain consistent humidity:

http://heartfeltindustries.com/categories.asp?cat=11
http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8

Never heard of them. will look them up:glassesgr
thanks

 

[CWS]

70/70, but I personally like to keep my humidity around 65-68

Take this for what it is worth but, 70/70 is like saying the best color is blue. You need to experiement with the cigars you like. Different cigars react to different RH's. I have one large cooledor that I keep at 63 to 65 %. Another I keep cigars at 67 to 68%. Then I have a 300 count that is at 70 to 72%. I like higher RH for lossely rolled cigars. The tighter the roll the less humidity. Again it is all a matter of trial and error with each box.

The temp will affect aging and of course reduce the possibility of a beetle hatch. All tobacco has beetle eggs. If the cigars get too hot, they will hatch. Is the absolute magic number 70 degrees. No. Think about it. Do you think Cuba and the Dominican Republic are nice cool places? Nope. I also guarantee the postal service doesnt keep their trucks and back room climate controlled either. Mostly it is common sense. Keep you sticks at or below 70 degrees. Try different RH's on different cigars. Ask people what RH they keep specific cigars. It is all a fun learning experience.

 

[Soundwave13]

I get creeped out just hearing about them - every cigar enthusiast's nightmare!

I'm gald it was isolated Mitch!

Low temperature minimizes the chances of beetles hatching, but doesn't completely prevent it. I've heard of them hatching at "normal" temperatures before, but it's very rare. I'm really surprised that it was a Davidoff factory cigar, with their production & quality control, I'm shocked that this happened to that particular stick.

Weird, but again, at least it was tubed & didn't spread elsewhere! I would write a letter/email to Davidoff & include your picture.

 

[njstone]

That sucks, but I"m glad it was just the one cigar and that it was tubed! I would suck to have that spread...eww!!!

This makes me want to check over my cigars...

 

[Hendy]

When I had my first issue. I had to go through 1000 cigars. I got so freaked that I ended up bagging them and freezing them for 48 hours. All is well now. I have gotten in the habit of freezing everything that goes in the humi. They say that "all" mfg's freeze there sticks before they go to market to kill any eggs. I have not been able to believe it. So I do my own security measure.

 

[cf2112]

Sorry to see that Mitch but damn glad it was in a tube!!