What Is This???

I was going through my cigars putting the smaller ones into their own Tupperware type container when I noticed this:

https://i.postimg.cc/L4c9BdXT/5-C4-D...E2-D2-C072.jpg

It seems to me the hole is a bit too large for the dreaded cigar beetle, but what else could it be? It’s bored down into it so it’s not like the wrapper happened to have this perfectly round hole.

I quarantined it and have considered taking all of my cigars and freezing them as a precaution. I looked over several of the others but didn’t notice anything.

What say you?

Looks like a beetle hole to me.

Does tobacco dust come out or is present in your storage container? Does it only penetrate the wrapper, or does it extend into the body of the cigar?


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Just tapped on it and saw a little bit of tobacco dust fall out. The hole certainly digs into the filler leaves. Beetle?

Most of the cigars I’ve had for months or longer. And the new additions either came from a cigar bar or the grocery store. How long does it take for this to show itself, assuming this is a beetle?

Sounds like a beetle. I'd be running everything thru the freezer by now if it was me.

Who knows how long it takes to show up. When did your humidor hit the optimal, internal temperature for a beetle egg to hatch? It's anyone's guess.

Sounds like and looks like a beetle hole

I put all of my smokes (except the one) into the freezer this morning.

I keep most of these, including the infected one, in my fermentation chamber which is set at 65*. I was more curious how long it takes to get an issue. I’m wanting to see if I can figure out where it likely came from. JR Cigar, CI, Underground Cigar, the grocery store, or the cigar bar. The infected cigar came from Underground and I’ve had it for months, maybe 6.

Is there a shotgun hole in your humi it may just be a buckshot hole?

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Originally Posted by rodwha

Just tapped on it and saw a little bit of tobacco dust fall out. The hole certainly digs into the filler leaves. Beetle?

Most of the cigars I’ve had for months or longer. And the new additions either came from a cigar bar or the grocery store. How long does it take for this to show itself, assuming this is a beetle?

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Been a while since I last researched it but I used to be super paranoid about it and froze everything but I have not been as good about that as I used to be. From what I vaguely remember is the dormancy period for eggs is quite long but they only hatch when temperatures rise to a sufficient level I believe in the 80's. If I found one I would freeze 3verything and try to inspect all my sticks this is easier for some than others. Also what humification do you use because I believe once they exit the go for that. But again been a while since I worried about that.

I use Boveda packs. Can those be frozen? I put all of the cigars into ziplock bags. And what if the tupperdores themselves? Freeze and wipe out?

What’s the time frame for these to become safe to pull out?

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Originally Posted by Emperor Zurg

Sounds like a beetle. I'd be running everything thru the freezer by now if it was me.

Who knows how long it takes to show up. When did your humidor hit the optimal, internal temperature for a beetle egg to hatch? It's anyone's guess.

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Wot the Emperor said.
And....
Maybe if you can identify the Beetle that laid the Egg. She might under torture reveal the "time to hatch" but might be lying.

So what of the Boveda packs? And how long before I can call my cigars good to go?

Most online companies have same basic info but holts didn't sound as ominous as some others
https://www.holts.com/clubhouse/ciga...o-beetles-bugs

Freeze for 3 days or more. Keep them tightly sealed in double ziplock bags so they don’t dry out. You can just put the entire sealed tupperador with the cigars in the freezer. Gradually thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours to avoid cracking from rapid thawing. You do not need to freeze the boveda packs, but I would wipe them down. If you are worried about them, just replace them. The beetles can’t penetrate the bovedas, or it would be obvious because they would leak. Just wash out the tupperadors with soap and water. Wipe out the humidors paying attention to cracks and crevices. You may use rubbing alcohol or ethyl alcohol for wiping and allow to completely dry and evaporate. While the cigars are undergoing the freeze process, this would be a good time to re-season the humidor as the alcohol will dry them out. After this process is complete and the cigars are returned to the humidor, inspect daily for a while checking for any further damage or signs of beetles.
Is it possible this cigar already had damage that you didn’t notice before? I would still treat my entire stock to be safe.

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Originally Posted by Nature

Freeze for 3 days or more. Keep them tightly sealed in double ziplock bags so they don’t dry out. You can just put the entire sealed tupperador with the cigars in the freezer. Gradually thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours to avoid cracking from rapid thawing. You do not need to freeze the boveda packs, but I would wipe them down. If you are worried about them, just replace them. The beetles can’t penetrate the bovedas, or it would be obvious because they would leak. Just wash out the tupperadors with soap and water. Wipe out the humidors paying attention to cracks and crevices. You may use rubbing alcohol or ethyl alcohol for wiping and allow to completely dry and evaporate. While the cigars are undergoing the freeze process, this would be a good time to re-season the humidor as the alcohol will dry them out. After this process is complete and the cigars are returned to the humidor, inspect daily for a while checking for any further damage or signs of beetles.
Is it possible this cigar already had damage that you didn’t notice before? I would still treat my entire stock to be safe.

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It could well have come to me in that condition. The tiny cigars came in a box with quite a few and I didn’t pay them much mind.

“The holes are usually about the size of a pinhole.”

This is about what I thought. The hole in this cigar is more like a pinhead sized hole. It seems rather large. But eaten through so deep gave me pause.

What Mark (Nature) said.

I would do a dissection of the damaged cigar, drag that lil farker out kicking and screaming and take pleasure in helping him to an early demise. Then smoke the tobacco in your pipe.

I actually did take my pocket knife to it and didn’t find anything. I looked fairly well. And I was ready to skewer it for sure, especially with all of this trouble. Clearly it was a beetle looking at the tunneling I saw.

I went to my grocery store for a stick to smoke tonight.

And then I freaked out! Check out this hole:

https://i.postimg.cc/RV8n8zwY/A7399-...E351-A8-C3.jpg

Quarantine it with any other cigars in that tupper....be safe and keep an eye out. That hole is pretty big for a beetle...they aren't usually that large but maybe you got yourself some kind of anomaly as tobacco dust is a red flag. I tend to always keep a few tuppers around for quarantine when I get new cigars....30 day minimum before moving them to GenPop. Keeping a steady 65%/70 degree environment is key....too many changes in environment tends to greenlight those pesky basturds into making their escape.

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Originally Posted by rodwha

I actually did take my pocket knife to it and didn’t find anything. I looked fairly well. And I was ready to skewer it for sure, especially with all of this trouble. Clearly it was a beetle looking at the tunneling I saw.

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if you saw tunneling along with the dust, the likelihood of it being from a beetle is high. It may be from a former time and long gone, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t leave some procreative tidbits behind. You are wise to take precautions.

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Originally Posted by FidelCastro

Quarantine it with any other cigars in that tupper....be safe and keep an eye out. That hole is pretty big for a beetle...they aren't usually that large but maybe you got yourself some kind of anomaly as tobacco dust is a red flag. I tend to always keep a few tuppers around for quarantine when I get new cigars....30 day minimum before moving them to GenPop. Keeping a steady 65%/70 degree environment is key....too many changes in environment tends to greenlight those pesky basturds into making their escape.

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I might just start freezing newcomers. But the idea of keeping them separate for a while is a good idea too. I’m just glad I saw this. I’m finally getting a bit of a collection and would probably cry like a big baby if they were all destroyed!

Later today I’ll place them in the fridge.

I went through a good number of my smokes today and found nothing else. I’m guessing maybe this was an issue prior and dealt with then as the damage on the one was much larger than just the hole and I found no others.

However my last and prized cigar from my trip to Honduras didn’t care much for the treatment. I’m guessing I’ll try to smoke it backwards as I liked it too much to just say goodbye.

https://i.postimg.cc/Z5gbBF7f/2819-E...1-C5418-E1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rodwha

I went through a good number of my smokes today and found nothing else. I’m guessing maybe this was an issue prior and dealt with then as the damage on the one was much larger than just the hole and I found no others.

However my last and prized cigar from my trip to Honduras didn’t care much for the treatment. I’m guessing I’ll try to smoke it backwards as I liked it too much to just say goodbye.

https://i.postimg.cc/Z5gbBF7f/2819-E...1-C5418-E1.jpg

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A little pectin and some water and you have cigar glue. Or some camel slobber.

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

A little pectin and some water and you have cigar glue. Or some camel slobber.

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As a matter of fact I still have some cigar glue in a little jar in the fridge. If not I have to powder to make some more. Maybe I should try that. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Old Smokey

A little pectin and some water and you have cigar glue. Or some camel slobber.

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Pulled the offender out and noticed it is much worse today. Glued what I could and set it aside. We’ll see how it fares later.