tobacco beetle

[Manning]

I was just checking out my stash when at the bottom of my monte no 5's my girlfriend notices something crawling. i tell her its nothing and that shes just seeing things, (she doesnt like to be told shes wrong ). To save the peace I take a closer look myself and there it is a f@&k!^g tobacco beetle wandering around the bottom, so i double cleaned everything out bagged it up and threw em all in the freezer, trouble is after all that exertion I really fancied a stogie. Now I got to wait 4-5 days.

The box was brought a lcdh in the hotel all the other cigars appear to be fine but i am not taking any chances. I had my humi at 70% rh, i think that coupled with the heating being on full blast made the buggers feel right at home.

The good news is my girlfriend now feels sorry for me so I am going to push my luck and try smoke something a little bigger indoors once the 4 day freeze is up.


edit: hotel in cuba

[Davex]

That`s a bit disturbing, i though pest`s where a thing of the past.
When do you think it arrived?

[DavidD]

Manning - Bad luck on that one, especially a live beetle. Since finding holes in 4 gifted Bolivar Belicosos Finos some time ago, I've been ruthless with inspections and freezing. I'm sure central heating has a bearing on larvae hatching and beetle activity. As for getting sympathy from the good lady and being permitted to smoke indoors - grab the opportunity while you can. It will be short-lived. Be prepared to return to an austere regime - just like me !

[Puff Scotty]

That`s a bit disturbing, i though pest`s where a thing of the past.
When do you think it arrived?

Not in Cuba David....loads of the enemy 'cos the Cubans produce there food.....

[Davex]

Not in Cuba David....loads of the enemy 'cos the Cubans produce there food.....

Not wishing to hijack the tread, but all of mine are going in the freezer.

[Puff Scotty]

Not wishing to hijack the tread, but all of mine are going in the freezer.

If yours came out from the UK David you should be OK...freezing is part of the export to UK process..although how this is carried out I don't know..or if it applies to NC's in general...

[DavidD]

Does anyone know if irradiation is ever used to get rid of pests ?

[cigarsam]

it's good for killing pathogens, not sure about larger pests as the dose needed may be too high

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[Puff Scotty]

Stick your best stogie in the microwave & find out....

[baileyth]

I still think the extra protein can only be a good thing

[cigarsam]

or the wood burning stove will do if you are from where puff is.

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[SmokeyDave]

So sorry to hear of your unwanted guest, every BOTL's nightmare

Forget irradiation, I suggest immolation

I have heard a few people mention beetles from cigars brought back from Cuba, I don't think they freeze their stock over there, though I vaguely remember reading somewhere that they have just changed their practice to include freezing (then again that could be utter tosh, I shall try and hunt the article down).

[SmokeyDave]

Here we go, as posted on CA forums:


If someone has already posted something like this, sorry for the duplicate.

I've seen a few threads where people are discussing whether or not CC are frozen at the "source" : well here's the answer.

"We are not saying we have solved every problem, but we have put that era behind us, and the complaints have been dramatically reduced," he adds. Jim?nez S?nchez-Ca?ete also explains that every cigar is now frozen before it leaves the warehouse to reduce or eliminate problems with tobacco beetles.

This is from an article published on April 1, 2011 called "Habanos Today". Excerpt is from page 3.
Here's the link : Habanos Today, page 3


Edit : I have to give credit to Hovy for mentioning this article in another thread.This message has been edited. Last edited by: tempbond,May 08, 2011 04:49 AM

[Manning]

yea i was really pissed off at the time but ive calmed down now though lol.

I don't think it had spread to any of the other boxes, so hopefully there shouldnt be to much damage. Its like what another botl said somewhere on the forum about people having to see the beetle to believe they exist. Well I take the threat more seriously now, that being said I dont think people should panic or worry about stock from UK.

Atm im thinking of freezing any new purchase for the time being but thats probably because Ive had an attack from the buggers .

[Wardjrz]

I had an episode late last year with some sticks bought in Greece. A dead beetle, but live larvae - well they were alive for a few seconds until I squashed 'em.

I only found them when I cut open the cigar that was full of holes. There were four in one Panatela sized stick.

I've got some pics somehwere, If I can find them I'll post them.

Complete panic and worry about the rest of my stock, the whole lot went into the freezer.

I wasn't so worried about the two infected sticks I found but the risk to the rest of my cigars plus the embarrassment of innocently sending an infected cigar to another BOTL from here who was extremely gracious once he had recovered from his heart attack.