Well, I got beetles...

[BDC]

Now that I freeze everything that comes in for a few days, even smacks I haven't had a problem...

[tattoofreak]

Originally Posted by Cigary

Been there and nothing makes you sicker than opening your humi and picking up a cigar to smoke and you see the horror! I learned my lesson abut 8 years ago when I picked up some gars in Cozumel and put them in my humi when I got home only to discover some time later I had an infestation,,ruined about 30 cigars with their little holes,,boy was I pissed. Now, I go thru my own regime when I receive cigars,,,they go into my 'holding' humidor for at least a month and if they show no signs of sickness, they go into the next humidor (150 count ) for longer storage. I have about 5 humis that are 100-250 count ones and keep them in a room where it is always 70/70 and I have one small humi for dryboxing.

I have not had a problem with any infestation since ( fingers crossed ) and hope never again, once was enough for me!

Thats a good idea about putting them in a holding humidor first I'll have to start that. When I lived in Las Vegas I could never get temp below 75 thank god i never had problems.

[ashmaster]

Originally Posted by PaleRider

So, I personally have never had my collection striken with the plauge. My question is this.

What is the best preventative measures to avoid a truly heart wrenching experience such as this?

Discuss

I've had this happen to me one time about 2-1/2 years ago, ended up losing a good number of sticks (especially some special ones) and it certainly pi--ed me off. Other than keeping the temp in the lower 70 degree range (which is virtually impossible in my condo), I freeze all my sticks for a min of 96 hrs. Knock on wood, have not had an outbreak since.

Either way there is no guarantee you won't get an outbreak but at least is helps minimize the chances.

[Cigar Man Andy]

Originally Posted by PaleRider

So, I personally have never had my collection striken with the plauge. My question is this.

What is the best preventative measures to avoid a truly heart wrenching experience such as this?

Discuss

I keep them in their original box for a week or so before putting them in the the populated humidors. Always keep my temp under 70. 68 is better so I store them in the basement. If you cant keep the room or humidor at 70 or less, try a Vinotemp and order Spanish Cedar shelves for it. Here is a link to eBay Vinotemps. http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories
It might help.

beetles

[Paint]

Just be glad they are not crabs!!Beetles are bad enough could you imagine being invaded by crabs?

[CosmoKCohiba]

There is a very good chance i'm going to have nightmares of that beetle video, had no idea they were that big.

[stfoley]

Here's the odd part...no holes. I looked at the jaridor on my desk last night and saw the little hellspawn crawling up a cigar. So I quickly opened it up and squeezed the bug to see if it was a beetle...yep, nice loud crunch...it was a beetle.

I found a dead one in the bottom of the jaridor as well. I suspect the low air circulation in the jaridor is helping keep them from causing as much harm as most would encounter.

The jar is kept about 70%RH, 65-70degrees.

I'm just glad that it wasn't my CAO Sopranos or my Oliveros Eight-Zeros. That would have really pissed me off.

[PaleRider]

Originally Posted by Paint

Just be glad they are not crabs!!Beetles are bad enough could you imagine being invaded by crabs?

Got those in HS once. Oh Gawd that was uncomfortable!

[stfoley]

Yeah....crabs would be less than pleasant....well, unless they were the edible variety, like blue crabs...then I'd just boil a pot and start throwing them in.


Mmmmm...blue crabs....

[kansashat]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

can you take pics of the holes? i have never seen them

Originally Posted by s15driftking

thanks for the link, but iwant to see th eholes in the cigars.

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...hlight=beetles


http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...hlight=beetles

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...hlight=beetles

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...hlight=beetles

You're spoiling these kids rotten Donnie.

[Beatnikbandit]

Originally Posted by BDC

This was a couple years ago in my "forbidden" humidor..

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y10...coBeetles2.flv

OMG they are HUGE thats nasty I hope I NEVER see one in real life although only have been smoking cigars for 4 years now I bet i will one day ::SCREAMS IN TERROR:: but "knock on wood" I hope I don't "fingers crossed" But If one cigar has holes then they have hatched and the others could also be infested Personally I would dump the gars as i and not that hard up (especially if it is a bundle and less than 20) It kinda makes me happy i have so many small humidors to make sure if one gets infested i cant loose more than 50 unless multiple humidors get infested ::SCREAMS IN TERROR::

So I would ditch them all and since its in a jar stick it in the dishwasher or something then your good. I think your lucky just imagine the horror of finding your main stash with all your good sticks infsested I would cry like a baby . Because i live in a hot region i wont get another humi larger than 50 ct unless its a vinotemp (thats the best way to store and make sure you dont get beatles and keep them in the best shape forget thoes humi jars the sun isnt good for them anyway)

[mrreindeer]

I just had an outbreak of crabs...er, beetles, yep, I just checked, definitely beetles, not crabs, and posted a thread on here a bit ago. Even with the Vino (which was new), I caught a beetle early so was able to save everything. The culprit gar was a cheap one that a buddy wanted me to try, from a local B&M that rolls their own down in Orange County. I did have the sucker resting in a desktop before I got the Vino late this summer and it got way too warm. I figure the bastard hatched prior to going in the Vino and fortunately, I had it in a small tupperdor with only a few others.

In that tupperdor, I had placed a humidipak and since that tupperware does such a fine job at sealing, well, the humidity got way too high, even in the Vino. Anyway, since the high humidity coupled with the high temps over the summer probably led to the outbreak, I froze the tupperdor and I'm surprised that the taste of the cigars has not been affected (I was worried about that) and we're back to normal.

I think temp control is key. I don't think cedar does a great job keeping them away because I actually saw the culprit beetle (hopefully there was just one) crawling at the foot of a cigar wrapped in cedar. I also think keeping your humidity lower than 70 is also key. I keep my Vino at 65 degrees / 63 - 65 RH.

I'm slowly going through the Beetlegars first (with the exception of the one OC cigar with 2 visible holes, the only cigar with holes), lighting them up and getting rid of them as soon as I can. I haven't heard any crackling while smoking so I figure the outbreak was just with the one OC stick.

[s15driftking]

how do people get beetles in a cooled chamber? (vino)

[mrreindeer]

Bob, I think the bugger hatched when I didn't have the Vino. I think the heat of the summer in L.A. coupled with the high humidity in the tightly sealed tupperdor led to the hatching. Once hatched, I guess they can live in a cool environment. I'd imagine beetle larvae exists in a lot of the tobacco we smoke. Yeah, I know. . You should probably stop smoking now & send me your entire stash.

But it's the heat & the high humidity that makes the larvae hatch into beetles.

Now that I've got everything sitting in the Vino (except the wife's flavored Acid's & Natural's), I don't expect that any of that larvae that may be in the tobacco to hatch.

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by mrreindeer

Bob, I think the bugger hatched when I didn't have the Vino. I think the heat of the summer in L.A. coupled with the high humidity in the tightly sealed tupperdor led to the hatching. Once hatched, I guess they can live in a cool environment. I'd imagine beetle larvae exists in a lot of the tobacco we smoke. Yeah, I know. . You should probably stop smoking now & send me your entire stash.

But it's the heat & the high humidity that makes the larvae hatch into beetles.

Now that I've got everything sitting in the Vino (except the wife's flavored Acid's & Natural's), I don't expect that any of that larvae that may be in the tobacco to hatch.

Noted. Thank you


BTW, my entire stash is on the way,lol!!