Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

I was playing humidor tetris today, when I opened the small 20-ct humi that holds my ************** (name of manufacturer deleted) sticks. I was dismayed to find a little bug crawling around. I thought to myself "Oh my god, is that a beetle?"

Turned out it was. It looks to be the only infected stick. I tapped it on a piece of white paper and saw the tell-tale droppings dust. I sliced it open and saw the round beetle holes. I also found a larva in the sliced open stick.

I also inspected all of my other humidors, and they look ok.

Now, I'm kind of freaking out, but I'm hoping it was just a one-off.

I have contacted the manufacturer, but I'm not looking for them to "make it right." I know that we are always at risk of beetles, and I'm just trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong, storage-wise.

I use 65% Heartfelt beads, and we keep the A/C in the house at about 72 degrees.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Time to freeze anything that was in that humidor or if it came in contact wit any other sticks now elsewhere... :c

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Get in the habit of freezing everything before placing in the humi.

Since finding my first hole a year ago, that's been my SOP and so far, it appears to be working.

If you could somehow get the temp down under 70* might help, too.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

[quote=Tenor CS;344502]I was playing humidor tetris today, when I opened the small 20-ct humi that holds my ************** (name of manufacturer deleted) sticks. I was dismayed to find a little bug crawling around. I thought to myself "Oh my god, is that a beetle?"

Why won't you disclose the manufacturer or the vendor? It might allow others to make a more informed decision about what or where to purchase from in the future.

Not trying to be a smart-ass....just curious why you wouldn't divulge this info.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

These type of threads is the reason i put everything in the freezer 2 weeks ago. Sucks to hear but its good they didn't spread through everything

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

I've run into this issue recently myself. Temperatures were below 70°F and RH was 70% or less. It does happen. Yeah it sucks big time.

Here's the routine I'm using: 24 hours in the fridge, 48 to 72 hours in the freezer, 24 hours in the fridge, 24 hours at room temperature or in another cooler that will allow gradual transition to room temperature, then back into the humidor. Then wait about a month before smoking those sticks.

Like others said, I'm thinking the freezer time is going to become SOP.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Good thing you went trap shooting with us a couple weeks ago, now you can shoot the little beetle cigar-bustin, bastage :dance:

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

The more I see these threads the more I want to start freezing gars.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Temperature is always the culprit on beetle egg hatching.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

I am thinking of putting spiders in all of my humidors. :)





I keed, I keed! I freeze every cigar I get, no matter which country it's from and no matter if it's 1 cigar or 100 cigars.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

How long should you freeze before placing in the humi?

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Here's IMO the best thread about cigar freezing.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...light=freezing

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Freezing only has the potential to kill adults and larvae. The eggs are able to withstand long stays in freezers. Therefore, freezing only kills the bugs already in your cigars but won't prevent hatching. The key is to keep cigars in a cool temp. This is the reason my cigars will have a new home in the basement this summer.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

The science says otherwise; the time tables in the link below is from a Japanese study that is very comprehensive on the subject.

Freezing everything can keep your personal Humis bug free with near 100% efficiency.

edited to add link to original study summary http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aez/41/1/87/_pdf

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

I kind of consider it bad form to post a thread with negative info, or "calling out" or bashing a vendor/manufacturer before they have had a chance to respond.

At this point, he has had just a few hours. And it's a Sunday. If a few days pass, and I still have no response, then I might post a thread saying "I told manufacturer X that one of his cigars had beetles and he didn't seem to care."

This manufacturer is good, and a stand-up guy. I don't want to tarnish his reputation.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

freeze them Christian (the cigars, not the vendor)

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Not sure if it is bashing or rep-tarnishing... I see it as giving the community the opportunity to check their stash from the same vendor...

Given most of us generally by from retailers not manufacturers it is probably pretty easy to narrow down a list...

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

If anybody wants to know who the manufacturer was, PM me and I'll gladly tell you.

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

Re: Oh no! I found a beetle!
 

To those who have recommended freezing:

I have followed your advice. The cigars are now in a lightly vacuumed food-saver bag in the refrigerator. After 24 hours, I will transfer them to the freezer.