More Beetles!

[Coz77]

Originally Posted by ECPrevatte

Was your temp above 70's?

So far I have read nothing will happen if they are stored in the correct temp.

I store cigars in my cool dry basement and never had a prob. The Humi never goes above 70°

[MTB996]

Originally Posted by ECPrevatte

Was your temp above 70's?

So far I have read nothing will happen if they are stored in the correct temp.

Not sure, but I doubt it (it hasn't gotten warm yet in NC). I have 2 Vinos that sit at 60-68F, but this was my room temp desktop. I suppose there is a chance the damage is from last fall or earlier (where the house temp would be likely higher than 70) but I would have thought I'd either seen it earlier or had more sticks affected.

I lost some sleep last night due to that picture. Maybe freezing after receiving shipments is the way to go...

That picture scares the crap outta me.

[Mr Edmundo]

These types of posts really freak me out!!! With all the buying I've been doing lately, from so many different sources. I'm wondering if I should be proactive and start freezing everything. I would hate to lose a big chunk of inventory. I've been lucky so far, and everything is at 70 or less at all times. Most are stored in the basement where, if anything, the temps may be too low, at around 60 to 65. I did just check every stick while updating my inventory. Probably helps that I have them spread through 3 desk top humidors and 3 coolers/tupperware containers.

Freaky, I too hate these posts. I have been freezing everything that comes into the house for a few months now, regardless of shipping or local b&m. Haven't noticed any diffrence in flavor and I can sleep without wondering what happens in the dark of the humidors

I started checking before I finished this thread. I have never yet had beetles but there will be a first time. Not this time.

[e-man67]

I too have my humidors stored in my cool dry basement that never gets above 70...I have never had an issue in 15yrs....should I be concerned? Is it just the warmer temps that make the bugs come out?

[dannyboy]

I found a beetle hole in a Taboo Twist about 3 weeks ago...that was my fear being hear in Hawaii with no AC, temps rarely drop below 70. I bought a mini Vino within two days and all my cigars are resting comfortably at 65/65 right now. I sure hope nothing can happen at that temp...now you have me worried.

Found beatle holes in 3 Taboo HSG's out of a bundle purchased about 3 weeks ago. Never froze before but I guess I'm going to have to start.

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

I started checking before I finished this thread. I have never yet had beetles but there will be a first time. Not this time.

That was me until last week. Only one stick though. Still a little shocker.

This is the method I usually follow; if the lacioderma decide to hatch I gather up all the cigars in the affected enviroment and give them two days in the freezer, then two days in the fridge to slowly thaw them and then finally a dark place (closet) to fully thaw at room temperature. That should send any worms about to hatch back into slumber and save the day.
Remember low temperature and low humidity, in my opinion, is almost always better than a humidor that randomly spikes past 70 degrees.

[big a]

Atleast you were able to catch them before it was too bad. How fast are these able to spread and destroy all of your stash? I just re-checked all of my cigars and so far im good however I think I might freeze all my sticks anyway.

[ECPrevatte]

It was very hard for me to keep my 100ct humidor under 70 degrees. During the day it would spike up to like 76 degrees. I just ended up getting a vinotemp small 6 bottle.

Originally Posted by goalie204

beetle threads creep me out, but everything is in my vino, so its all 64 degrees, and 65 or less humidity, hatch free imo

Until they do

[okieRob]

Man that picture creeps me out.

With summer around the corner I'm about to start freezing - no way I'll keep my humi temp down below 70 around here.

- Rob

[mcmoyer]

i just dug through the box with my latest purchase & found the little bastards in the HSG Lanceros...off to the freezer the rest go. Like okieRob, there's no way to keep the temps down below 70.

[SmokinApe]

I think I am seeing a trend here... better check my stash...

BTW, storing your cigars at 65F doesn't help much if the eggs hatched before you got them...

[Texan in Mexico]

Afternoon all,

I live in Cancun and like the fellow in Austin, it is really a challenge to keep temps below 75, let alone 70!

In my experience and the little I have read, the beetles are a result of humidity not temperature.

Again, I am by no means an expert but my vinos stay well below 70% but the temps do go above 70 F on a regular basis and have not had a problem.

You will find opinions saying that it is temperature and others saying humidity but in my experience it is humidity not temperature that causes the bettles to come out.

Travis

[SmokinApe]

Well, IMO beetles come from beetle eggs... Most reputable manufactures either freeze or fumigate product to prevent breakouts... but the little buggers (mostly eggs) sometimes get past the manufactures and infest the retailers after hatching during the shipping process... and sometimes they don't hatch until the ride to the consumer from the retailer and infest your entire collection...

Plenty has been said here about freezing cigars and its benefits, against which there is little argument.

However, a couple other things must be stressed.

Unless you have absolutely NO electric power where you live and where you store your cigars, you can very easily keep them stored properly. It costs some money and it will take some time on your part, but your investment in your cigar collection should include your committed investment in taking care of those cigars. This means finding and using the storage for them in a relatively well-sealed, 65-70 degree F. temperature and 65-70% RH environment, period.