Humidor Trouble.

[Cigarz]

Ok. I went through and searched but the closest topic I found was for "coolidors". I have a 100 count savoy with a good seal, a DH and large humidifier. The problem is I live in a warm climate and I can't keep a fairly large condo at 70 degrees constantly just for fifty cigars.

I don't let the temp get above 75, and I tried to keep the humidity at 65% to adjust for the extra heat. Well several months ago I found 2 beetles jumping around as I opened the box. I found the 2 cigars with holes, and one of the cigarz was a VSG wizard that had 3 years of age and the other was a newer fuente king B.

I didn't want to freeze all my cigars because it just sounded counterintuitive so I just cleaned everything out and threw away the bad ones.

Then just last week I opened it and saw two more beetles. So I cleaned it out and luckily for whatever reason they left my bundle of Opus No.2 alone, that Ive been aging for 3 years now and went for a couple cheap cigars I recieved from a thompson mail order variety pack right next to them.

So I went through, cleaned it out again and reluctantly froze my cigars triple bagging them. Left them in for 2 days and put them in the fridge for 1, put them in the box and cranked down the AC over night. That was a week ago. I am smoking a VSG robusto and it taste great, no problems.

Anyway, that brings me to my next questions. Is my bug problem gone, barring any new unfrozen cigars if the temp goes up again? How can I keep them at a constant temperature and humidity to prevent having the problem in the first place. Should I just freeze all new tenants?

My cigars always taste good, but I can never get them to plume because of the relative fluctuations. I don't have a lot of cigars but I do have some really exspensive cigars that I have been saving for 5 years now and don't want to lose them. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, sorry about the long post and thanks for your time.

[Snake Hips]

Just freeze everything you get. It kills the eggs and stops the problem right there. You don't need to worry about the temperature as much then.

[karmaz00]

not a big beetle expert, but you need to find a way to keep the temp down...under 70...75 is risky as you know... did you take out all the cigars and clean the humidor? good luck

[Cypress]

My experience is that 75 should be ok as far as the temp is concerned. Down here in Houston its hard to keep that temp during the summer unless you want a 400+ electric bill. You may have introduced beetles from a cigar that you purchased. Because you did not freeze the eggs can still hatch. Since you froze all of your cigars for 2 days you should be fine. I have never had a beetle problem. The one time i did notice beetles on cigars prior to introducing them into my humi was because i got them from someone after the hurricane blasted through last year and they did not have power for some time. I froze them and have not had a problem since.

[Cigarz]

Yes I took them out.Blew out all the tobacco dust.Sprayed the humi with RA and wiped it down really well, then left the top open for a day. Then recharged it for the other two before I put them back in. Yea the temp thing is what I need to figure out. Tried the closet, but its actually warmer in there. So I have them in the cooloest room in the house without sun light, but an AC vent.

[Cigarz]

Ok cool thanks for the replies. That seems like the best solution. Just freeze the bastards to hell before they start munching.