Possible beetle hole

[msm1771]

Hey everyone,

Just curious to see if this is a beetle hole or not and if I should be concerned. I took the best pictures that I could.

I keep my cigars at 64% 70-71f in case any of you were wondering.

So far I just put this cigar back in the humi in a ziplock bag. I would freeze them but I smoke through them usually 1-2 months after I get them. Plus, in my experience, freezing my cigars dulls the flavors.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[vinnyvega]

Yeah, that's not a beetle hole.

[...]

Looks like a nick, no beetle here

[soutso]

For the sake of offering an opinion, imo freezing cigars if done correctly does not alter the flavour - though we can never truly know as we can't smoke it, freeze it and smoke it again!

Habanos freeze all cigars in any case.

As for the hole, was there a fine dust at the bottom of the box it was stored in? That's a good sign that it is a beetle problem.

From the pic, I'd say it's hard to tell. Can you see the wrapper underneath the hole? I refer to the wrapper that has been rolled over itself. If that is the case, I'd say you are safe.

[msm1771]

For the sake of offering an opinion, imo freezing cigars if done correctly does not alter the flavour - though we can never truly know as we can't smoke it, freeze it and smoke it again!

Habanos freeze all cigars in any case.

As for the hole, was there a fine dust at the bottom of the box it was stored in? That's a good sign that it is a beetle problem.

From the pic, I'd say it's hard to tell. Can you see the wrapper underneath the hole? I refer to the wrapper that has been rolled over itself. If that is the case, I'd say you are safe.

There is no hole under the wrapper just the wrapper itself.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[nick2021]

no

[NSXCIGAR]

Doesn't appear to be a beetle hole to me.

Just a note on your storage conditions--I'd recommend backing off the temperature a bit. Beetle larvae don't hatch until the temp reaches 72 deg F, so 71 deg F should be the absolute upper limit. Keeping the temp between 60-65 deg F is ideal for normal storage and greatly reduces the likelihood of beetle issues.

[sharks]

I'd say negative on the beetle hole

[CigSid]

As everyone has concluded, it is definitely not a beetle hole, they are always perfectly round, and as Soutso said, you will find some dust (beetle poop) usually underneath the cigars...

[msm1771]

Thanks so much everyone!

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[msm1771]

Doesn't appear to be a beetle hole to me.

Just a note on your storage conditions--I'd recommend backing off the temperature a bit. Beetle larvae don't hatch until the temp reaches 72 deg F, so 71 deg F should be the absolute upper limit. Keeping the temp between 60-65 deg F is ideal for normal storage and greatly reduces the likelihood of beetle issues.

How on earth do I keep my humi that cool?! I store it in my closet and my apartment is 70 all the time.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[danny]

I find it near impossible to keep my cigars at near 70 and under. I can't fathom leaving my A/C on to reach that either. I'm at a constant +/-75 with 65rh and never have had an issue with bugs (and I only freeze custom rolls).

I honestly also can't recall walking into a shop's walk-in humidor excepts maybe 2 out of 100's and it being below 70 either. Always a comfortable temperature much like my home.

Anyone else in the same boat?

[Scrubber]

I find it near impossible to keep my cigars at near 70 and under. I can't fathom leaving my A/C on to reach that either. I'm at a constant +/-75 with 65rh and never have had an issue with bugs (and I only freeze custom rolls).

I honestly also can't recall walking into a shop's walk-in humidor excepts maybe 2 out of 100's and it being below 70 either. Always a comfortable temperature much like my home.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I'm in the same boat. My temp stays at about 23 degrees C and always constant 65%rh. It's works well for me so far.

No issues with beetles but I don't think I've been smoking long enough and bought enough to really strike them. I think they are pretty rare now days with CCs.

When I first got into cigars I was at 70%rh but this just didn't work well with CC. Now I pretty much only smoke CC and I've found they smoke perfectly.

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[msm1771]

I'm in the same boat. My temp stays at about 23 degrees C and always constant 65%rh. It's works well for me so far.

No issues with beetles but I don't think I've been smoking long enough and bought enough to really strike them. I think they are pretty rare now days with CCs.

When I first got into cigars I was at 70%rh but this just didn't work well with CC. Now I pretty much only smoke CC and I've found they smoke perfectly.

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I always thought that for some reason cc are more prone to beetles. When I found out this isn't true I am no longer worried about them. Out of the thousands of cigars i've stored at 71% 64% I've never had any issues for about 7 years now

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

[NSXCIGAR]

How on earth do I keep my humi that cool?! I store it in my closet and my apartment is 70 all the time.

Sent from my 86" White Testarossa

Well, I didn't say it was going to be easy...

It should be easier in cooler climates where outside temps don't reach 70 deg.

But as long as you're not having any recurring issues low 70s shouldn't be too much of a problem. I was really only speaking to ideal conditions for absolute peace of mind.