SlimOne Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I just received three boxes of cigars from friends returning from Cuba. Upon opening the D4's I noticed a hole in a cigar. Then once I went through the whole boxe I found seven cigars with holes. I know it is definitely beetles. This is the first time I have had to deal with them. I always freeze new stock regardless of its origin. How long should I keep them in the chest/deep freezer (set to max) to make sure the beetles are dead? FYI R&J shorts and CoRo were without any holes but are currently in the freezer as well. Please let me know what you think? Also, are the cigars with the holes junk or smokable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickG Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thank god I've only had that happen once, with one stick someone gifted me a couple years ago. After freaking out and going through all my sticks. ( and I have a big collection) I took that one and put in the freezer for a couple months. Then I took it out and let it thaw in fridge for a few days, then left it out in a empty box for another day . Then smoked it . It smoked just fine. Beetle hole and all. I'm not sure if there is a set time limit to do it, as long as they have a good amount of time to freeze and kill beetles. The key is to keep them away from your other smokes until you are sure all the beetles are dead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXCIGAR Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 The general process as I understand it is to freeze the cigars for 72 hours in a ziplock, move to the refrigerator for 24 hours, then move back to humidor and let them settle for a month. Obviously, if the cigars were in your humidor at any point, clean it thoroughly. The cigars should be fine to smoke unless the hole itself causes problems. If it's low on the cigar, take a little piece of tobacco, wet it, and stick in on the hole. Might help, might not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimOne Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Is there anyway to tell if the pests are dead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickG Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Is there anyway to tell if the pests are dead?theres not much that can survive being frozen. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 freezing kills the larvae afaik. Once you have beetles....different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimOne Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Please....what is the rest of the story regarding beetles? Longer freeze time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteMamba Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 fire would certainly kill them 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeavran1 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Every cigar owners nightmare. Hope the rest are well. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCgarman Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 freezing kills the larvae afaik. Once you have beetles....different story. Freezing destroys the eggs which can hatch and become larvae. I have a commercial grade stand up freezer that stays at 10 degrees below zero Farenheit. All incoming boxes go in there for 48 hours then back into the humidor cabinet. I have no beetle issues anymore. AFAIK Cuba only freezes boxes destined for export, not boxes which are sold on the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Just because HSA freezes all stock, does not mean that a beetle can't jump on board somewhere in transit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallclub Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I have no beetle issues anymore. When have you had beetle issues? In the last 15 years, I haven't seen a larva alive, I don't know one smoker who has had an infestation (ie eggs hatching), I can't remember one case of infestation reported on the several cigar forums I attend since 2001/2002, bar one in Belgium, and it was only one larva… All the pictures of cigars destroyed by larvae that you can find on the web are more than 10 years old. As far as regularly exported production is concerned, the beetle problem is as dead as John Lennon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaDisco Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Freezing kills them all, but the time/temperature required is slightly different for eggs, larvae, temperature acclimatized larvae (who knew?!) and beetles proper. There's a well worn chart on the subject from the Japan Tobacco institute and it's been posted on here somewhere, I just am missing the link at the moment. If your fridge is -20F you will cover all your bases with 3-4 days in the freezer IIRC. Surprising to find beetles in PSD4's (happened to me once though) as those sticks should be frozen at the factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RijkdeGooier Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Seen beetles in cigars as recently as last year in an old Partagas de Partagas box offered for sale. Caveat emptor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Surprising to find beetles in PSD4's (happened to me once though) as those sticks should be frozen at the factory. As stated above, only cigars destined for export. Then again, its Cuba.....nothing is really that hard a rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCgarman Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 When have you had beetle issues? In the last 15 years, I haven't seen a larva alive, I don't know one smoker who has had an infestation (ie eggs hatching), I can't remember one case of infestation reported on the several cigar forums I attend since 2001/2002, bar one in Belgium, and it was only one larva… All the pictures of cigars destroyed by larvae that you can find on the web are more than 10 years old. As far as regularly exported production is concerned, the beetle problem is as dead as John Lennon. Had some issues with non Cuban cigars. I have both NC and CC in my cabinet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coloniales Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) Cigars exported by HSA, are all frozen. Cigars in the domestic Cuban market are not. I have a stash at a well known place in Havana, for many years. Well, back in 2014 the A/C broke down for 2 months in July/August. Anyhow, I arrive 6 months later, and am looking forward to seeing my stash. Out of 8 boxes, only 2 boxes escaped. The others had been chomped on big time. The next day funnily enough, the fumigators were in the place... Strangely enough, lockers right next to mine untouched, another further away was much the same as mine. Apart from one box, all were replaced. Lesson, all cigars purchased in Cuba freeze, everything. All gifted cigars, keep in baggies, or smoke quick, as you don't know the source. I just had one beetle in a humidor at home 2 weeks back, <moderated>. Froze the whole lot for 48 hours, then rest for 24 hours in fridge. Lost 2 cigars, 2 others were fine, if like playing a flute lol. Keith. Keith. Edited March 15, 2016 by Fuzz Language Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moryc Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 The time required to kill everything (beetle, larval, egg etc.) depends on the temperature in the freezer. There was a paper that I think was posted somewhere in the forums that talks about that. I saved it for reference and I am attaching it. On page 3 there is a table that outlines the times based on the temperature. Add a day to each of these times for good measure. Low-Temperature Disinfestation of Tobacco Beetles (research article).pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RijkdeGooier Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Cigars exported by HSA, are all frozen. Cigars in the domestic Cuban market are not. Keith. This is the official line. I am pretty sure once apagones hit the freezer has a good chance of being is off duty as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimOne Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 The time required to kill everything (beetle, larval, egg etc.) depends on the temperature in the freezer. There was a paper that I think was posted somewhere in the forums that talks about that. I saved it for reference and I am attaching it. On page 3 there is a table that outlines the times based on the temperature. Add a day to each of these times for good measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimOne Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks for the link! I just stumbled into a website saying to microwave then freeze. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone microwaved cigars to kill beetles? I have never had to deal with them in the past and now I am concerned with putting those gars in my humidor. Thank to all for the info and comments. For those that think beetles are a myth....give your head a shake. They are obviously still a concern. I live by Murphy's law so I guess it was just a matter of time before this happened. Too bad my friends didn't think to have them open the box for inspection. At least there were only seven holey smokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimOne Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks for the link! I just stumbled into a website saying to microwave then freeze. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone microwaved cigars to kill beetles? I have never had to deal with them in the past and now I am concerned with putting those gars in my humidor. Thank to all for the info and comments. For those that think beetles are a myth....give your head a shake. They are obviously still a concern. I live by Murphy's law so I guess it was just a matter of time before this happened. Too bad my friends didn't think to have them open the box for inspection. At least there were only seven holey smokes. Please don't microwave your stock. Freeze away. A week to make you feel better. Just ensure they are in a sealed ziplock bag. You won't have any more problems. You can relax Beetles are an issue with cigars purchased in Cuba (not talking about NC's). I haven't seen a live beetle in the warehouse for a long time. I see beetle holes and the occasional dead beetle but they lost their lives in the freezing warehouse in Havana. I see 12-14000 boxes a year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallclub Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thank to all for the info and comments. For those that think beetles are a myth....give your head a shake. They are obviously still a concern. No. Not in exported cigars. Please find me a regular habanos purchaser who would have had a REAL issue in the last 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Please find me a regular habanos purchaser who would have had a REAL issue in the last 10 years. One that hasn't mixed his stock with others. When i have been contacted by members experiencing a beetle outbreak it has generally been sourced from: Custom Cigars purchased in Cuba or traded for. In Cuba sourced cigars or traded for. Members need to freeze Cuban customs or Cuba sourced stock to be safe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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