strayvector Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Just a word of warning to everyone. Yesterday I discovered a pretty serious beetle infestation in a NOV06 box of PSD4s in my locker at the local cigar store. I've meticulously gone through all my other boxes and thankfully it was the only box with beetles. The storage condition fluctuates between 72F-76F with humidity between 65-70%. I realize the temps are a little high, but I used to freeze all incoming cigars until about a year ago when I heard the news that HSA freezes all cigars prior to shipment. Since then, I've been a little lax about freezing my cigars. This is now the second 06 box that have had beetles hatch, so now I'm back to freezing all incoming cigars. For those of you who have relaxed your vigilance because Cuba now "freezes" their cigars, you may want to rethink your strategy. I know I will.
habanohal Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Lotz of known bettle cases in public locker humidors. Could be from a neighboring locker. It has happened alot befor. That is why I have my own cabinets
Justinwzp Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » I used to freeze all incoming cigars until » about a year ago when I heard the news that HSA freezes all cigars prior » to shipment. Since then, I've been a little lax about freezing my cigars. » This is now the second 06 box that have had beetles hatch, so now I'm back » to freezing all incoming cigars. For those of you who have relaxed your » vigilance because Cuba now "freezes" their cigars, you may want to rethink » your strategy. I know I will. Can you describe your "freezing" method for me? I've always been curious about how you guys do it.
anacostiakat Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Typically the "freezing" method is to wrap and bad snugly. Put in a deep freezer (something close to commercial grade that really will freeze them. Not just your fridge freezer normally) for around three days. Remove afterwards and put in fridge for another three days or so. Remove and let come to room temp over the course of a few days. Then pop in the humi! Oh, I actually have only done this a couple times. I bought a chilled cabinet humi!
Professor Twain Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Sorry to hear this. I have been very happy with my Haier fridge, I actually have two now. Temperature never gets over 67 degrees. Since a fridge costs less than a box of premium cigars it seems like a smart investment for anyone in a warm climate (of course I know that not everyone has the space for one).
Evo03 Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » Sorry to hear this. » » I have been very happy with my Haier fridge, I actually have two now. » Temperature never gets over 67 degrees. Since a fridge costs less than a » box of premium cigars it seems like a smart investment for anyone in a warm » climate (of course I know that not everyone has the space for one). Hi Professor Which Haier models do you own, and how easy is it to maintain 65% humidity? Thanks Justin
Loki Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » » Can you describe your "freezing" method for me? I've always been curious » about how you guys do it. If you do a search I think El Prez has covered this topic and I think he offers this service.
n2advnture Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » ...in my locker at the local cigar store. I've meticulously gone through all » my other boxes and thankfully it was the only box with beetles. The » storage condition fluctuates between 72F-76F I think that there may two contributing factors that do not have to do with HSA freezing their smokes. First, anytime you have temperature approaching 70+ degrees, you run a greater risk of the larvae hatching (although some have experienced them at lower temps). Secondly, you have a whole myriad of cigars that you do not know the history of being stored in the same humidor (eg shared locker humidor). I'd love to hear more info on HSA's freezing method from Rob though. I hope this helps bro ~Mark
bobsled Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » Hi Professor » » Which Haier models do you own, and how easy is it to maintain 65% » humidity? Thanks » » Justin Check this thread [link=http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/board_entry.php?id=46943#p46943]fridge thread[/link]
Professor Twain Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » » Hi Professor » » Which Haier models do you own, and how easy is it to maintain 65% » humidity? Thanks » » Justin I have two of the BC112G models, which are 30 bottle wine fridges. I use Heartfelt beads and Exquisicat beads, there are previous posts on these. Using beads stabilizes humidity at close to 65%. These fridges do very well maintaining humidity. There are two issues to watch though. First, humidity tends to fluctuate when the fridge turns on and cools. But I posted results from an experiment I did on this, by using remote digital hygrometers I found that the humidity fluctuation inside of boxes and cabs is very small when the fridge comes on. Hygrometers out in the open in the fridge will register larger swings than actually occurs in the cigars. The other issue is that you will tend to get higher humidity in the lower parts of the fridge and lower humidity at the top. There are two strategies to combat this. One is to rotate boxes, so that cigars that have been stored at relatively low or high humidity rotate to the other end of the continuuum, every month or so. The other is to buy small computer fans, and to put those on timers, to circulate the humidity to regularize it. In practice I like to transfer cigars from my fridges into one of my desktop humidors before smoking, that way they can be stabilized at a more constant humidity. Living in Florida, I feel that I must prevent the temperature of my valuable cigars from getting too high, and while I would love to have an Aristocrat or other fine piece of temperature and humidity controlled cabinet, the fridge solution is a good one.
Professor Twain Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » » Hi Professor » » » » Which Haier models do you own, and how easy is it to maintain 65% » » humidity? Thanks » » » » Justin » » Check this thread » [link=http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/board_entry.php?id=46943#p46943]fridge » thread[/link] Thanks for posting this thread.
Evo03 Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Thanks for the info guys, and I'll check that thread. Justin
El Presidente Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 » I'd love to hear more info on HSA's freezing method from Rob though. » » I hope this helps bro » » ~Mark One big commercial freezer where palates are stacked. I will find out the capacity information and process for you.
El Presidente Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Just some observations I have had. I wonder if others have had some similar experiences. From my converstaion with Sam when we discussed the vagaries of beetles. > It is unlikely that the infestation came from outside your locker. Ask > Mark Neff about getting a source for Pheromone traps to use as an > early detection advice. > > What I have summised over the years with beetles is that given a > choice of tobacco they go for the richest/oiliest. > > Actually that is a test I would like to run in order to confirm. The > next time I come across a beetle I will keep it and give it a > selection of one Cuban and 5 non Cubans within an airtight container. > I suspect it will > attack the Cuban first. > > We have found two boxes with beetles over the past > 12 months. Partagas > Corona and Partagas 898 V. Both 06. Infestation cannot occur here > because the temp is too low (18 degrees Celsius in humidor and 14 > degrees Celsius in warehouse). Obviously the deep freeze in Havana > wasn't deep enough. > Interestingly that is about 70 boxes a year less than usual. In the > past temp variations in relation to transport to and from PCCHK caused > havoc and it is the reason (in part) that HSA went to its own freezing > facility. > > Three boxes (including yours)....all Partagas. I wish I kept the > boxcodes. I have seen in the past beetles jump from a box of Partagas Serie De Connoisseur No 1's where they originated from....to two shelves away (4 ft...100 boxes) to attack a box of beautiful Cohiba Robusto. If I could train them I would employ them as quality assessors. Try and track down some of those traps as an early warning system :-)
Claudius Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Regarding the freezing, I'd be curious to find out temp and time. Especially time. » I have seen in the past beetles jump from a box of Partagas Serie De » Connoisseur No 1's where they originated from....to two shelves away (4 » ft...100 boxes) to attack a box of beautiful Cohiba Robusto. If I could » train them I would employ them as quality assessors. That doesnt seem very likely IMO. Couldnt the Coro box have been carrying the beetles in the first place and they appeared?
El Presidente Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 :-D » That doesnt seem very likely IMO. Couldnt the Coro box have been carrying » the beetles in the first place and they appeared? In this case no because the Coro box had one adult beetle and the beginnings of a hole in one cigar. I am quite sure that at the time the beetle came from the infected Partagas box and the beetles were "spreading thier wings". Interestingly Strayvector pointed out that the sole infected box within his humidor was the oiliest box of PSD4 he had seen. So...either the larvae were in the box to begin with or they flew in and selected that specific box from his stash. From a beetles perspective once hatched your receptors are seeking a food source. There comes a point when some leave their "host box" way before they finish the contents. Why? Anyway to forward my theory I have taken some 20 damaged pre 05 stock (multiple brands and vitola's) and have placed them in the sun in a tupperware container with piece of wet sponge within. Lets see if I can entice a beetle to play. Once I have one 1 or more I will place them in a chamber with 6 cigars in another chamber...connected by a gateway ( yes...two plastic milk containers taped together) In the chamber holding the cigars I will place 6 Cupido's (Nicaraguan cigars) and the oiliest richest Cuban I can find. Lets see what they go for. If they go for the Oily Cuban then I will repeat with 12 Cupido's and another Oily Cuban. ***I should point out that a low temp (say 62F) will stop larvae hatching but it will only slow down hatched beetles which have come in from elsewhere. They will still complete their life cycle (laying of eggs).***
Claudius Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 » :-D » » That doesnt seem very likely IMO. Couldnt the Coro box have been » carrying » » the beetles in the first place and they appeared? » » In this case no because the Coro box had one adult beetle and the » beginnings of a hole in one cigar. I am quite sure that at the time the » beetle came from the infected Partagas box and the beetles were "spreading » thier wings". Oh, ok... » Interestingly Strayvector pointed out that the sole infected box within » his humidor was the oiliest box of PSD4 he had seen. So...either the » larvae were in the box to begin with or they flew in and selected that » specific box from his stash. » » From a beetles perspective once hatched your receptors are seeking a food » source. There comes a point when some leave their "host box" way before » they finish the contents. Why? Yes, why?! » Anyway to forward my theory I have taken some 20 damaged pre 05 stock » (multiple brands and vitola's) and have placed them in the sun in a » tupperware container with piece of wet sponge within. Lets see if I can » entice a beetle to play. » » Once I have one 1 or more I will place them in a chanber with 6 cigars in » antoher chamber...connected by a gateway ( yes...two plastic milk » containers taped together) In the chamber holding the cigars I will place » 6 Cupido's (Nicaraguan cigars) and the oiliest richest Cuban I can find. » » Lets see what they go for. If they go for the Oily Cuban then I will » repeat with 12 Cupido's and another Oily Cuban. Well, if I were a beetle, I know what I'd go for! :-D Looking forward to hearing more about this. The beetles moving away from the super oily box is very intriguing...
tapewormboy Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 » From a beetles perspective once hatched your receptors are seeking a food » source. There comes a point when some leave their "host box" way before » they finish the contents. Why? There might be a natural avoidance of the beetles' own waste products. No one wants to eat and **** in the same place. :-D Sounds like a cool experiment Prez!
El Presidente Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 » No one wants to eat and **** in the same place. :-D » » Sounds like a cool experiment Prez! Just briefed Lise on the experiment. I swear she is about to have me institutionalized
GP012 Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 » » No one wants to eat and **** in the same place. :-D » » » » Just briefed Lise on the experiment. I swear she is about to have me » institutionalized About the beetles playing mouse trap or the old adage of "don't **** where you eat"? :-P :-P
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