Beetles Part II: (Dead Ones + Pics Be Warned).

[williamthewolf]

Hi everyone, 

Thank you so much for the info on the "beetle hole" that turned out to NOT be a beetle hole on the H. Upmann Magnum 54's the other day. They're still resting in isolation from other cigars (currently in the fridge but for a different reason you'll read below). 

That said, this evening I decided to look at another recent box (arrived Sept 22) of Petit Edmundos. This box is with others in my wineador kept at 64˚F and 65-66 RH. I had previously opened the box on the day of arrival and they all looked good.  I started to do the same today only to find 5 or 6 dead beetles! And some FAT ones at that!!! 

All the other boxes in the wineador are symptom free. No bugs, no dust, no holes. That said, other than the beetles themselves, there's no dust, holes, nothing in the Monte PE's. 

If you look at these pics of the cigar feet though, do you see any evidence of beetles crawling through?  One cigar looks like it could have a tunnel in the foot. But i tapped and no dust came out. I read in another thread form 2011 where a member found a beetle I believe on a Cohiba, El Presidente Rob suggested a beetle could have crawled through the foot and laid eggs.\

Are the cigars ruined? Can I smoke them after freezing? Will the beetles be a potential threat even after freezing?  I’m reading that some people don’t think home freezers get cold enough. I've set mine to -4˚F if that matters. 

All my cigars (from both that wineador and other humidor) are all in double freezer bags in the fridge before they go into the freezer. 

 

Please let me know ur thoughts. Very dismaying to say the least. 

 

Pics attached in next post. 

[williamthewolf]

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[djrey]

Nice photos of the bastards. The cigars are fine. Freeze them and the rest of your stock though. Place in freezer bag then I like to throw them in a bubble wrap pack from amazon etc to slow the temp change. No need for fridge first, just throw them into the freezer for at least 3 days. They will still smoke fine. 

[williamthewolf]

Nice photos of the bastards. The cigars are fine. Freeze them and the rest of your stock though. Place in freezer bag then I like to throw them in a bubble wrap pack from amazon etc to slow the temp change. No need for fridge first, just throw them into the freezer for at least 3 days. They will still smoke fine. 

Thanks so much for the reply. Anything specific you recommend with cleaning wineador? I do have a couple cedar shelves.


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[djrey]

I would just do an alcohol wipe down of everything and you should be all set. Also beetles need warmer temps to hatch so keep your temps under 70 and even if you have viable eggs you wouldn't see an issue. 

[williamthewolf]

I would just do an alcohol wipe down of everything and you should be all set. Also beetles need warmer temps to hatch so keep your temps under 70 and even if you have viable eggs you wouldn't see an issue. 

Perfect. Easy enough.

That was a damn family of them! A couple of them way larger than I imagined.


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[djrey]

You are fortunate they were not living and seemingly did no damage. 

[williamthewolf]

Just now, djrey said:

You are fortunate they were not living and seemingly did no damage. 

do you have any idea how they just appeared. I was pretty thorough checking the cigars when they first arrived. I most definitely didn't see them a week go. 

[djrey]

No idea. My guess would be that the freeze in Cuba killed them off shortly after being rolled which would explain the lack of damage. But if you didnt see them then suddenly they appeared who knows. Weird for sure. 

[williamthewolf]

Very strange indeed. Well they're about to all die in the freezer. 🥶

[Nino]

Quite unusual to have that many beetle experiences in such a short time ...

I'd put them in a ziplock and freeze 4 days at minus 20C - that should give you peace of mind and kill any eggs laid by the beetle.

Better yet, store your cigars below 22 C as any eggs will not hatch below 24-25C.

From what I see you should be OK, might be dead beetles that left no "kids" - but wipe the humidor with alcohol and you'll be fine.

Enjoy the sticks !!

[Edicion]

Thought to share a post from IG with an (allegedly) Pre-embargo (presumed) sealed tube where the beetle has (apparently) suddenly woken up after 60+ years. The little fella looks happy walking around looking for his next meal. 

[williamthewolf]

6 minutes ago, Edicion said:

Thought to share a post from IG with an (allegedly) Pre-embargo (presumed) sealed tube where the beetle has (apparently) suddenly woken up after 60+ years. The little fella looks happy walking around looking for his next meal.

Wow. These are resilient cigar killers! Mind blown.


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[patrickamory]

I just spotted these two last week. Immediately froze them for 3 days, then fridge, now they're out. 

Haven't seen any others in the humidor, and the rest of this box was fine.

What do you think - beetles or not?

[Nino]

28 minutes ago, patrickamory said:

I just spotted these two last week. Immediately froze them for 3 days, then fridge, now they're out. 

Haven't seen any others in the humidor, and the rest of this box was fine.

What do you think - beetles or not?

 

Yes, most def beetle holes. Sad sight.

[williamthewolf]

4 hours ago, patrickamory said:

I just spotted these two last week. Immediately froze them for 3 days, then fridge, now they're out. 
Haven't seen any others in the humidor, and the rest of this box was fine.
What do you think - beetles or not?

From what I’ve learned recently those are classic beetle holes.


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[Nino]

1 minute ago, williamthewolf said:

From what I’ve learned recently those are classic beetle holes.
 

Yes - but much more "civilized", less "beetle appetite" and can be repaired I hope.

You don't want to see this when opening a box ...

 

[williamthewolf]

3 hours ago, Nino said:

Yes - but much more "civilized", less "beetle appetite" and can be repaired I hope.
You don't want to see this when opening a box ...

That’s so sad. How long do you think it took them to do all that?


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[Nino]

1 hour ago, williamthewolf said:

That’s so sad. How long do you think it took them to do all that?
 

No idea - it was a box purchased by a TX friend of mine in HAV. But I'd think it was like a few months.

Problem is he was not allowed/ didn't think of opening it in HAV at the store....