Cigar Magazine's article on cigar beetles...

[StreetSpeed]

Hey all,

Anyone read the cigar beetle article in the summer 2008 issue? It says many things about them; how manufacturers keep beetles at bay by sub-freezing their inventory at set intervals., how to get rid of the beetles you already have, but the most disturbing an eye opening point to me was in the last paragraph:

"The bottom line on bugs? Remember the old adage about an ounce of prevention - and never let your cigars get even one degree above 70."

My cigars in the summer are routinely at 72ish degrees, sometimes I see it up to 75. I don't leave my AC on all day and night. Am I gonna be in trouble here? I'm a bit of cigar newb in the grand scheme, as this is my first summer having hundreds of cigars in storage, so I've never experienced the beetle before. So, is the magazine trying to freak me out and because I've had my cigars at 70.2 and higher for the last couple months is my whole stash now beetle fodder? I'm not too stoked on keeping all my cigars in the freezer for the next 21 days (as per their recommendation). Plus I'm getting married in 2 weeks, and there shall be much cigar smokation and I have to have some readily available!!

[serenomike]

I'm pretty sure if there are already not beatles in the stick there won't be any. I keep mine at like 73, and the humidity at like 72 because in my big humi all the cigars are in boxes. I've never had a problem before, just keep inspecting them though.

[StreetSpeed]

Gotcha. I was under the impression that all sticks had bugs in em', but it took the right conditions to bring them out. They didn't address that issue in the article, unfortunately.

[alnpd-cl]

Only had beatles once. I believe the burrow their way out so, if that is the case, several and I mean several AF Dbl Chateau madys & a few Cohibas from ISOM were the "hosts". This was back in like 1999. Never had a problem since! Thank goodness. I did howeer take great pleasure in crushing those little buggers but alas the damage was done. Several hundreds of $$$ in smokes in the garbage!

[baba]

I have only had beattles onece. All my cigars are in origional boxes, so if there is a problem, they will be restricted to that single box. I live in Washington state, and the temp out side gets 90, maybe 5 times a year - temp in the humi is not often a problem.

[StreetSpeed]

Originally Posted by baba

I have only had beattles onece. All my cigars are in origional boxes, so if there is a problem, they will be restricted to that single box. I live in Washington state, and the temp out side gets 90, maybe 5 times a year - temp in the humi is not often a problem.

Perhaps, but the article said they'll happily chew through boxes; even the cedar through a humidor!

[matt3-cl]

I think that you would probably detect the beetles before they had a chance to eat through the walls of a box.

My dad has a lot of cigars and he doesn't always have his a/c on. Sometimes his house will be 80 degrees inside for a few days and he has never had a beetle in 10 years. I don't have a ton of cigars but, I do have a humi full and I keep my a/c set at 75 in the day and 72 at night and haven't had a problem yet.

I think that if you inspect your stash perodically and do the best you can at keeping the temps as low as you can, that you shouldn't worry about it. Or you can always get a vinotemp and keep your cigars at 68 degrees all the time and sleep easy knowing that everything is good.

It's up to you.

[canney]

Originally Posted by StreetSpeed

Gotcha. I was under the impression that all sticks had bugs in em', but it took the right conditions to bring them out. They didn't address that issue in the article, unfortunately.

I think you are correct. Here is a good read on the bugs....

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...44,231,00.html

[Mowee-cl]

Originally Posted by StreetSpeed

Gotcha. I was under the impression that all sticks had bugs in em', but it took the right conditions to bring them out. They didn't address that issue in the article, unfortunately.

Actually I did address it in the article. I said part of the reason we don't see more bugs is because the manufacturers are doing a better job of killing em before they get to you.

Not all cigars have the bugs because most makers are taking precautions. So are distributers like Lew.

However, with that said you can get cross contamination. Beetles are found in Cayenne Pepper, Dog and Cat food...damn near any stored product. So you do have to be careful. The cigars could be free of bugs, but if your house is over 72, they could fly and get into your humidor. But remember you need a pair of em (male and female) to make any real trouble. The larvae is what does the most damage.

The ounce of prevention is a key...if you can keep em cooler, that is perfect. Otherwise inspect them often just to make sure you don't have any.

[Mowee-cl]

Originally Posted by StreetSpeed

Perhaps, but the article said they'll happily chew through boxes; even the cedar through a humidor!

Umm no I didn't say that. While the possibly COULD eat through it, it would simply be too much work for them when they can eat all the cigars in the box. The purpose of the article was to give factual information about beetles rather than the stuff I had read which had a lot of information wrong.

I also said if your cigars get down to 65 degrees in the winter, you might kill them that way.

[m69c44]

Great Info here.

[Paint]

I guess check your cigars on a regular basis,and stop damage if it occurs!!!!

[StreetSpeed]

Originally Posted by Mowee

Umm no I didn't say that. While the possibly COULD eat through it, it would simply be too much work for them when they can eat all the cigars in the box. The purpose of the article was to give factual information about beetles rather than the stuff I had read which had a lot of information wrong.

I also said if your cigars get down to 65 degrees in the winter, you might kill them that way.

I apologize, no you did not say that. But I took "the only thing she {Dr. Trock} has not seen them eat through is metal.." to mean that they can eat through anything not metal. I enjoyed the article I was just looking for some members perspectives on it.

[mc2712]

thanks for the info, i've had a tough time keeping my humidor below 75 degrees in the hot Houston HEAT.

[tx_tuff]

I always heard you need to keep them at least 75 and lower. My sticks get up to 75 durring the day and I have had humis is one version or another the last 4 or 5 years and never had a problem. Don't think I can afford to keep my AC on at least 72 all the time here in Houston. So I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and check on them.