Tiny bugs in my cigar boxes

[Craig Mac]

You would want to vaccum seal the cigars before freezing, but be careful not to over seal and damage the cigars. Most do fridge for a day, freezer for 2-3 days, then back to the fridge for a day.

As far as the time goes, you don't know how long they were in the box, they could have just recently hatched. If they had been there for the entire 6 months and not eaten the cigars then you could probably say with certainty they wouldn't be beetles. Better to be safe than sorry IMO.

 

[jimmypa]

Not sure where but there are threads on here and other forums on proper freezing techniques.

 

[smokinbodybuilder]

Not tryiing to scare you, but when I had beetles a few years back they were super tiny as well. Just to be safe treat your stash and storage as if you know for certain you have beetles. I will keep you and your cigars in my prayers tonight, friend.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Google "wood mites" as that could be another possibility. I remember someone awhile back posting about having wood mites. They don't care about the tobacco, they like the wood boxes. I don't have an opinion on what you have... good luck.

And btw, freezing is perfectly fine. I personally don't do it on my regular stock, but I was recommended to do so with the stash I brought back from Cuba... especially the farmies. And these multiple recommendations came from people all around the world that were there for the Partagas Festival, they know their stuff. I have a bag in my fridge defrosting as we speak.

 

[CWS]

Here's a picture of beetles. The bugs I encountered were like 10x smaller than this.
I could barely see them.

...And from what I've seen and read, larvae is not much smaller than this picture right here.
If my bugs are smaller than tobacco beetle larvae, then they certainly aren't' tobacco beetles.... RIGHT?
OH god. OH GODD!!! What do I do... haha
For real though, I'm scared :sadstare:

Well gosh if you are worried your bugs are too small, just let em eat for a while longer. They will get bigger.

 

[kravnh]

Why is that? Many here regularly freeze every shipment they get in and see no harm in doing so. Personally, it seems you may not want to accept that you have bettles. I have never had that issue so I can't say with 100% certainty that they are beetles, but if you open a box of cigars and see bugs, my guess would be that they ARE beetles.

Craig, do you freeze your cigars before putting them in your humi at home? I know some who do, some who don't. I currently do not, but am considering changing my ways after a beetle scare.

Keith

 

[AlohaStyle]

Well your picture of the bug clearly shows 2 parts of the body, like a head and body. Most google images of wood mites show that bug is mainly 1 form, not 2 parts like a big head and body. I'm afraid to agree with others here... looks like you have a good chance of young beetles.

 

[Craig Mac]

Craig, do you freeze your cigars before putting them in your humi at home? I know some who do, some who don't. I currently do not, but am considering changing my ways after a beetle scare.

Keith

I have only frozen cigars on one occasion when my vinotemp was exposed to high temperature. I have never had a beetle issue so do not feel the need to freeze. I used to be skeptical about freezing but the results from freezing IMO had no impact on the cigars.

 

[Knickerbocker]

i had a beetle problem about 2 months ago where they got to some of my boli PC's. I hand inspected every single box of cigars and everything in my singles draw then froze them. i had like 7 boli PC's, 3 had beetle holes so i got rid of them all. honestly, it's not worth it and I feel very fortunate to have caught it as early as I did. Would have been devastating to lose a humidor that has 10k worth of cigars in it.

I also have a cooled avallo humidor where the temperature and humidity are set to 60/60, so i'm guessing the beetles got to them before they got into my humidor.

 

[mthhurley]

Can anyone really say for certain that these are tobacco beetles? I don't think they are.

Without a clear photo of them, no.

 

[mthhurley]

when my vinotemp was exposed to high temperature.

Still too soon?

 

[Craig Mac]

when my vinotemp was exposed to high temperature.

Still too soon?

go for it....

 

[mthhurley]

Neeeever.

 

[pbibby]

I'm confused. If they we're beetles why did they not absolutely destroy those cigars? He said they were almost trying to get away from the tobacco...

 

[smokinbodybuilder]

Beetles dont always eat through the wrapper. Sometimes they crawl in through the foot. Do the tap test over a piece of paper. hold the cigar foot facing down and tap it a few times. If some tobacco shavings fall out you aren't in good shape.

 

[Robertsndr68]

This thread is making me paranoid

 

[Jfire]

Beetles dont always eat through the wrapper. Sometimes they crawl in through the foot. Do the tap test over a piece of paper. hold the cigar foot facing down and tap it a few times. If some tobacco shavings fall out you aren't in good shape.

I couldn't agree more. And also think these may be cedar mites... Maybe is the key word.......

 

[pbibby]

Beetles dont always eat through the wrapper. Sometimes they crawl in through the foot. Do the tap test over a piece of paper. hold the cigar foot facing down and tap it a few times. If some tobacco shavings fall out you aren't in good shape.

I couldn't agree more. And also think these may be cedar mites... Maybe is the key word.......

Got it thanks

 

[Evan]

All cigars are negative for dust or holes. The box of cigars in question were wrapped in cellophane. It is my understanding that beetles eat through cello to get to the cigar. I tested one cello from the box by filling it up with water, it is free of holes.

After more reading, I learned (and this is on the Internet, so it has to be true) that adult beetles don't feed on tobacco or eat at all, it is the larvae that feed.

Here is another shot to give you perspective on how small this "critter" is.
It is literally the size of a speck of dirt.

 

[strife]

After enlarging your shot it's pretty apparent that it is in fact a Beatle. Imagine that.