When You Find A Beetle
 

What's the advice when you find a live bettle in the humidor? I always do the freezer protocol that I've learned on this forum with all the cigars that I buy. About 2-3 months ago I saw a cigar with a beetle hole, which I discarded and then maybe 2-3 more since then. Last week I took the top shelf of the humidor off to get a cigar. When I lifted it back up to put it back on, I saw a beetle on the table. I think that was the bast#$@. So what should I do? Re-freeze the remaining cigars? Take out the remaining cigars and wipe out the humidor? Give them away to the forum members for free?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

I'm sure there will be plenty of advice given here, but just my two cents...

I would immediately quarantine everything that was in that humi. Put it all in double ziplock freezer bags and back into the freezer...which you may not be doing correctly (or freezer not getting cold enough) if you always do it but still had a beetle.

Also, I keep all of my cigars on the lower level of the house, and about 10 degrees at all times below 75. This way, if there are eggs, they have a really hard time hatching.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Deep Freeze for a week. It happens to everyone. Here is a link to a video regarding it.

http://bcove.me/o5r1kgic

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Giving away cigars you KNOW to be infested is not a good thing. Unless you want to be ostracized by the cigar community.
:2
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Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Yeah deep freeze as above. But just for laughs, while freezing, check the empty humidor. Thoroughly. Any crack or gap. If you have "bead media" for hydration make sure they aren't hiding in there. They can also climb into some types of hygrometers if it is the analog dial type. Never seen that, but still, they are shy critters, love to burrow, and have to be surviving somehow.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

As already stated Deep Freeze treatment should get this taken care of.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

i would consider wrapping the humidor in saran wrap and freezing that too.

might have some larvea tucked away.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

being that you have had beetles before, it seems like you have a temperature issue.

you said you freeze everthing... are you sure that you:

1. freeze everything before it goes in your humidor...
2. nothing that was not frozen goes into that humidor....


If yes to these 2 questions, I would guess you are not freezing long enough or at a low enough temperature.


it's better to be proactive than reactive.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Beetle

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8X33UyJx4...tle_stages.gif

RYJ Habano devoured by beetle:

http://gartrader.com/uploads/gallery...0_19_24350.jpg

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

OKay you have me checking out ALL MY CIGARS.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

This is bad juju right here, but its like a wreck I cant look away from. I got a sick feeling in my stomach looking at that RYJ.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Freezing, of course, if your best option. Freezing the humidor could result in warpage and is probably contraindicated. Follow the technique outlined in the sticky in one of the forums.

After I get sticks out of the freezer and back to room temp, I tend to leave them in the sealed back for a couple of months in the humidor (but I have a very big humidor).

Also, beware the gifted cigar. In spite of the other person's best anti-beetle precautions, one may slip through. I leave all gifted cigars in the original bags, usually until they are smoked. I do open the bags and have the open ends pointed up (on the premise that a beetle with cigars to eat won't wander far - a possible error on my part) for humidity control. Once again, I have room. Remember, only you can prevent beetle outbreaks in your humidor.

I currently have 4 cigars that I received from an auction that are riddled with beetle holes and one larvae is visible. I'm leaving the zip lock they came in sealed and the bag set out on an out-of-the-way counter to see what develops. This is by far my biggest infestation ever and the only active one that I have ever found. btw, I smoked the undamaged on the other day and it was great!

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Mark make sure you document the carnage.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Once he gets rid of the bettles, What is the best way to prevent bettles from coming back?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

So, are you sopose to freeze sticks befpre you put them in the humidor?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

You forgot to add this :r

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Clean the humidor and boxes properly, freeze all cigars and chances will be pretty low. If you do those right, and it's really not hard to, then you would require an outside source for re-contamination.

If your methodology is to freeze the cigars, then yes, you would want to do it before introducing them into the humidor.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Dang, now I'm gonna have to spend the next hour looking over my stash......

:lv

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

I've always wondered if you keep the celo on all your cigars, can the beetles get through it or would they be trapped in that one cigar?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Beetles can and will chew thru cello.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Sorry I haven't gotten back with you sooner but I had Internet Connection issues. It's fixed now. I have repackaged all of the cigars in freezer bags and they are in the freezer. I also found several beetles in the Heartfelt Humidity Beads. I guess they like the moisture. The beads are also in the freezer. BTW, anyone insulted by my comment about giving the cigars away to forum members...it was just a joke. I wouldn't want to ever purposely contaminate a persons cigar humidor. Thanks for the feedback!!!

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Sounds like you have it under control! Just make sure your freezer is cold enough.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

And members would have known you were joking HOW?
it seems many thought you were serious.
:2

Good luck with the extermination.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

To be fair, people who haven't been around the cigar world for a good while probably don't suspect that there really are people who would deliberately ship beetle infested sticks to others. Has happened before and will happen again.

For those who don't know that there are bad/disturbed people in the cigar world, sorry to rain on your parade, but call me the the Reality Fairy.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Exactly my point, whether out of maliciousness or ignorance, it happens.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

You didn't call me the Reality Fairy.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Thats unfortunate. I didnt take him serious but its sad to hear that someone would ruin someone elses investment. Irregardless as to how much or how little someone has spent on their cigars.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

As the Reality Fairy said, there are people like this and then there are people that may not know they have a problem.
I freeze everything before in goes in my humi I don't care who or where it comes from. My :2

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

^ this.

I have people I trust implicitly that I trade, buy or are gifted sticks from.
I trust myself and my freezer just a bit more.

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

I saw mentioned more than a few times to make sure my freezer is cold enough. How cold is "cold enough." I don't own a deep freeze as was mentioned in a video link suggested by Zane. Would a longer time in a refrigerator freezer make up for it not being a deep freeze?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

FWIW I knew you were joking. Here's to a happy recovery !

http://imageshack.us/a/img198/2412/flavorflavla.jpg

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Took my sticks out of the freezer yesterday and placed them in the frig. Looking forward to re-introducing them to the humidor this evening after work. I actually cheated yesterday evening and after the cigars were in the frig for several hours I took one out and lit her up while working on my bike. It tasted just fine to me. But for long term storage of the rest, do you folks have any advice?

Re: When You Find A Beetle
 

Just try to keep them in the coolest part of your house. Not sure where you reside and If that's even possible.