Are these sun spots or start of beetles?

[AlohaStyle]

Hey guys,

Since I'm still pretty much a newbie, I could use a little help identifying the spots on a few of my cigars. I have no first-hand experience seeing beetles in cigars or what they look like besides doing a google image search and am hoping I don't have the start of beetles in my cigars! After doing research, I am thinking and hoping they are just sun spots...I will post a few pics of what I have. I have a Nub with a few "spots" and since it was hot in my house while I had this, I was fearing the worst. I can't remember if the spots were there originally.

I also just bought a 5-er of AF Hemingway's from a popular online vendor and and 3 of the 5 have these same spots, but most smaller. Are these the start of beetles or just sun spots?

I know sun spots aren't supposed to affect the cigars, but should I ask the vendor for new sticks? Or is this pretty standard?

Thanks for your help!

 

[indyrob]

Perfectly fine. It's a natural defect in the leaf but should have been selected as a sub-par wrapper IMO.

 

[Jfire]

Perfectly fine. It's a natural defect in the leaf but should have been selected as a sub-par wrapper IMO.

Where was Carlito when that was made. Yeesh!

 

[tubaman]

Yeah, one spot is no big deal, but that fuente looks like garbage. It will probably smoke fine and not affect the flavor, but it still looks terrible.

 

[VirginIslander]

Yeah, one spot is no big deal, but that fuente looks like garbage. It will probably smoke fine and not affect the flavor, but it still looks terrible.

Haha, easy there fella!

 

[RobustoMoe]

I have to agree with the boys on the fuente ! How did that wrapper pass ? Still though, no need to worry. Enjoy your smoke brother, these fuentes are tasty

 

[PLUSH]

Nope, those are bad - send em my way. :stretchgr


They are all good.

 

[Soundwave13]

Beetles are every cigar enthusiast's worst nightmare! No worries - those are definitely sunspots.

Sunspots are created when a droplet of water remains stationary on a leaf long enough that the sunlight hitting the plant is prismed through the water like a magnifying glass & burns the leaf where it was sitting. It isn't pretty - particularly when there are a few of them, but as stated, it does not effect the flavor or burn of the final product.

 

[carocaniac]

QA would be pissed right now!

 

[smokinghole]

Due to the slowing economy they must use sub-par wrapper leaves now on regular labeled cigars. :hysterica I just figured I'd throw that in there because everything else is preceded with an economy statement.

 

[jwyatt55]

Due to the slowing economy they must use sub-par wrapper leaves now on regular labeled cigars. :hysterica I just figured I'd throw that in there because everything else is followed with an economy statement.

Darn recession!! :cursing:

 

[RigilKent]

beetles would bored out like little holes you would be able to tell smoke these up they should be fine

 

[Andytex]

thanks for the post. I have a fuente like that and now I know its o.k. I love the knowledge on this site. thanks guys.:clap:

 

[AlohaStyle]

Thanks again for all the replies. When I contacted the vendor and gave them these pictures, below is how they replied:

Thank you for including those pictures in our investigation. I would just like to let you know that these spots are water spots. They are actually a stain caused by water that stays on the leaf for an extended period of time while its on the leave. The light from the sun is concentrated on that spot because of the water drop. Its virtually harmless and will not effect the taste of the cigar whatsoever. It is slightly unappealing to the eye, which I understand, and had every right to question them. With that in mind, you are still welcome to return the cigars if you wish, and we will be happy to replace them. Please let us know.

 

[tubaman]

Haha, easy there fella!

You think that fuente looks acceptable Bill?

 

[Gordy]

i have a few sticks that resemble these... had me scared there for a second

 

[cashedash]

It reminds me of accidentally dripping bleach on a t shirt. It still works but looks different.

 

[tsimonitis]

Where do beetles come from? are they in boxes shipped from factories or do they devlop in the humidor? are they actually beetles?

 

[andy]

What I've heard is they're there from the very beginning. Eggs are laid on tobacco plants and they make it through the harvesting process, the drying process, the curing process, the construction, the packing, the storage, and all the way through the trip to your humidor. The eggs lay dormant until they find themselves in environments with temperatures greater than 75°F. They hatch and start to chew their way through the filler, then the binder, and finally the wrapper.

There are some articles online and I'm sure in some thread here that explains how to deal with them.