How concerned should I be?

[SixburghDynasty]

Now I haven't been doing this cigar thing too too long but today I noticed that my cabinet humi was reading 76/66. Rule of thumb largely was always 70/70. I used to have a problem with keeping my humidity near 70 in my desktop so I got myself educated on that. I never really paid attention to the temperature really. Up until the new year all I had was a 100 count desktop. In there I kept a bunch of loose singles of Monte 2's, Monte PE's, and RASS's. All last summer I never ever paid attention to the temperature in that thing but I'm quite certain for a good 3-4 month stretch the thing was in the mid 70's temperature wise. No problems whatsoever with beetles. Actually I hadn't a clue in the world about them. So I'm not sure what prompted my interest recently when I saw the temp at 76 in my cabinet but I started doing research on why the temp is supposed to be no higher than 70. Found out quickly it's because of beetle eggs hatching.

Since then I've read up a bunch on beetles. Some message boards got me paranoid of them. Guys talking about how they freeze every box of cigars they get first before they put them in the humidor. I've also read somewhere that in the 2000's Habanos SA started fumigating all their stuff before they send it out so most likely there are no live eggs in the tobacco you are getting anyway. I'd have to say there must not be any in those Monte's and RASS's I have because the temp was in the 70's for an extended period of time and I got nothing. Up here in the north east US in the summer, it gets so balmy there is just no way to keep a humidor that is not a refrigerator under 70 degrees unless you want to freeze your ass of with the A/C.

So my question is can someone educate me a little better on how worried I need to be about beetles hatching in my smokes? Is this kind like a swine flu thing where you are actually more likely to hit the lottery or is this something that is more common than not if you don't keep your stash under optimal conditions?

[stargazer14]

I wouldnt worry about it too much (you think its 70 in Cuba everyday?)

Some might get past the freezing check point on the island, but its a rare thing.

Have a smoke and dont let it cause you to lose sleep.

Just try to keep the temp down, if you havent seen any of the little buggers eating holes in your smokes yet-

I'm sure you are fine.

[Jimmy2]

I have had some hot temps and never had beetles in my Humidor some people go to the extreme freezing their cigars. Have a good laugh when i here them doing that !!!

Cigars are put into a freezer in Cuba before they leave the island so their is no reason to do it again.

[habone]

You should be very concerned and if I were you I would unload those cigars fast. So send them to me. I'll take care of them for ya!

--I think most would agree that you need to invest in a wine fridge soon. Why take the chance?

[PartagasIV]

The only beetles I've had arrived in an '07 un-inspected box of Bolivar Inmensas which had three or four beetles and a whole bunch of dung.

While I do not have a temp-controlled humidor, I do go through every box when it first arrives, and do a 'tap test' over a piece of paper to see if any dung falls out. My advice would be to do this...and not get overly paranoid. My hope has been that (when buying new production) it's been pre-frozen, so when it shows up it'll have beetles already or they've been killed.

[sounddust]

I haven't had any visitors since an '02 box of BCEs. Anyways, as long as you don't waver too much from 70/70(I prefer 65/65), there shouldn't be too many problems, especially with the latest productions.

[Guest rob]

I'm like Jimmy, I had my smokes in my house for many summers (without ac) and never had a problem. I'm talking like 10+ years without temp regulation.

But as my investment in cigars grew I became more vigilant in trying to maintain 'proper' accepted ranges for humidity and temp. But this was more of an insurance policy than anything else.

[armedak]

Yeah, I would be worried. Move to Alaska and you won't have to worryabout temperature any more...

[kilroy]

I wouldn't be worried either. I'd just take some preventative measures to insure a non humidor wide breakout. Segregate the cigars so that all the loose ones aren't packed in together... possibly use ziplocks with a few pin holes in them. That way god forbid there is a break out you've already got most of them in quarantine.

[SixburghDynasty]

Thanks for the input guys, makes me feel better.

[mkz]

I dont really care about the temperature around my humis.

As for beetles: I freeze all newcomers before they are allowed to mix up with the rest of my stash.

Good luck with whatever feels best for you!