boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 I received a box of Partagas Serie C NO. 3 EL today, and when I opened the lid of the box there were 2 little bugs running across the inside of the box lid. Instinctually, I smashed them with my finger. The bugs were very small, smaller than an ant, and they were fast. I would guess they were a greyish/brown color and seemed to have a number of legs. However, interestingly, is there is not really any damage to the cigars suggesting tobacco beetle damage. There are 2 spots on a single stick where I could imagine a beetle coming out of, but not the normal holes that you see in cigars associated with tobacco beetles. I do not see any tobacco beetle holes. In any event, just in case, I posted pics of the stick with the 2 potential exits - one on the cap, and one at a veign protrusion. Again, I don't think this is evidence of damage from a tobacco beetle, but wanted to share in case. Any thoughts? I received the sticks in a trade on another forum from a well-reviewed trader. They are an HF marked box and look to be in good condition otherwise. Are there other bugs that are attracted to tobacco? I am concerned about storing these with my other smokes. Thoughts?
Tan1801 Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Don't look like beetle holes to me. You probably squished some wood mites.
Munts Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Smoke one and listen for a very quiet "eeeeeeeeee im burning... im burning".....
boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 I 100% agree that these are not beetle holes. Just concerned about the bugs I saw. Wood mites? Do I need to worry about storing these w/ my other sticks?
Fuzz Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Definitely not a beetle hole. I would agree with Matt, most likely wood mites. Just leave the box open in full sunlight (minus cigars, of course) and that should convince the mites to move on.
Cohiba Stevie Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Emmm.... I woudnt be so sure... Wood mites eat wood fibres... Not only that, wood mites are mites! (Very small) They are miniscule and not something you would notice right away when opening a box of cigars. (Small and white) Wood mites in my belief would not cause the above damage to cigars. My honest opinion is that its tobacco beetle. Just my two cents...
Cohiba Stevie Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Also remember that tobacco beetle rarely actually show any visible signs of infestation... Hope all is well.
boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 Definitely not a beetle hole. I would agree with Matt, most likely wood mites. Just leave the box open in full sunlight (minus cigars, of course) and that should convince the mites to move on. Great, thanks for the advice. Also, I noticed 2 small holes in the box itself, about the size of a pinhole. I've attached pictures. Does this look like woodmites' work? Has anyone seen holes like this before? At first glance I figured that someone likely stuck a pin into the lid to help with the seal.... and then after considering for a moment, I realized my thought was likely absurd as I've never heard of that. the holes go through the lid and then into the box.
brazoseagle Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Wood mites are small, white or almost translucent. Just because you don't see holes in the cigar doesn't mean they weren't beetles, and others could still be the dormant or unhatched.
Habanos2000 Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Freeze the box and cigars and ease your mind. That should take care of any problems.
El Presidente Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 I would suspect wood mites (they also feed on the glue). If beetles I am 99% sure you would have holes somewhere in a cigar as they "burrow out" from a larvae stage. If mature adults then it is unlikely that they stumbled into your box and have resisted the urge to have a feed. Check the foot of your cigars for holes. If in doubt...freeze away.
boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 Thanks for all the help, tips, and opinions. I plan to isolate the smokes for now in a separate humidor, and leave the box in the sun for a while.
ajgagnon Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Doesn't look like anything to worry about. I've had tobacco beetles... they look different. The wood holes look like pin/nail holes, but only you can tell whether they're lined up, etc.
boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 So it looks like the pin holes match up with other boxes in my trader's inventory -- so it must be his source that is making the holes. Interesting. So, as El Presidente suggested, I checked the foot of the sticks, and one of them looks really loose. The below picture has two that look okay, and the far right one looks loose. That's also the same stick with the opening in the cap and vein protrusion. As I said, I will likely keep the sticks separate for a few weeks, sun out the box, and go from there.
Tan1801 Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Tap the holes, if dust comes out then it might be beetles, but I highly doubt it. My experience with beetles is you know pretty much instantly when you've seen a nice track on you cigar . Also just to clarify, I wasn't saying the wood mites made the hole, just that you may have had wood mites in the box and that's what you squished. My understanding is wood mites don't attack/eat tobacco so cigars are safe from them.
BrotherBear Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 If you really want to know (and I'm not suggesting you do!), a way to find out would be to cut your cigar half way up & smoke half. The other half can be cut open to see what's going on. Probably not what you'd want to do with a great cigar, but it would let you know for sure what you're dealing with.
boopdeep Posted February 15, 2013 Author Posted February 15, 2013 Now these are Beetles!! ugh... that stinks.. I recently was gifted a fauxhiba that had a beetle hole like that.
Scdalak Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 NOOOOO! What are those sticks Steve? Direct from you know who Shlomo!!! No joke... Was a 10 Box Sancho Panza Escudos Germany Regionals.. 2 of 10 Ravaged... Aside from the insects, the acutally smoked pretty good!!
dangolf18 Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 Crap I think I might use the same vendor....gonna have to freeze everything.
Scdalak Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 I edited my post, i didnt name the vendor, but just be sure......
stargazer14 Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 One thing I tell friends getting into the 'hobby' is to keep your CC's and NC's seperate. As in different humidors. Away from each other. I have never had beetles in my CC's but have a few times in the NC's (of which I now have few.) That said, beetles or not, the freeze advice wouldnt hurt.
Scdalak Posted February 15, 2013 Posted February 15, 2013 I hope they made it up to you ... If making up means 2 Guantalamera Crystals, then yes.....
Jnaube Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 Direct from you know who Shlomo!!! No joke... Was a 10 Box Sancho Panza Escudos Germany Regionals.. 2 of 10 Ravaged... Aside from the insects, the acutally smoked pretty good!! Can you tell me what vendor it is so ai don't use it?
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