Cigar beetles are a menace, for sure. Imagine sitting down after a long day of work, getting ready to smoke a cigar to ease all your worries.
You reach into your humidor, pull out a cigar, and are shocked to see that it has holes in it.
But hold on a second. Before you toss the cigars into the trash, it’s important to know what cigar beetles actually are.
And you may be surprised to know that you can still smoke those cigars!
If you’re one of those people who want to know more about cigar beetles, you’ve come to the right place.
Not only will we go over what they are, but we will also find out ways to eliminate them.
What Are Cigar Beetles?
We aren’t new to pests, are we?
Well, the same goes for cigar beetles or often known as cigarette beetle, tobacco beetle, or more strictly, the Latin name “Lasioderma serricorne.”
They’re more common than you may think.
Although they’re not bigger than 2 to 5mm, they can be a nuisance for cigar smokers.
A lot of people wonder how the beetles actually get there.
When cigars are made, the tobacco leaves don’t have beetles in them, but they might have beetle eggs.
Female beetles tend to lay their eggs on tobacco all over Latin America.
There is no manufacturer that has been able to dodge the wrath of these dreaded pests. This is why they exist in every cigar in the world.
There is good news, though; these pests are not poisonous.
Apart from being painfully annoying and ruining your smoking enjoyment, these creatures are essentially harmless.
Where Do Cigar Beetles Come From And Why
A limited number of reasons cause cigar beetles to hatch and eat through your cigars.
That being said, it is still a possibility, and you rather be safe than sorry.
Beetle eggs don’t like temperature changes, and a sudden spike in temperature or humidity can get them angry.
Another trigger could be a drastic change in humidity (from really dry to moist or vice versa).
The best way to work around this is to keep your humidor in the same place and avoid changing places.
Then, if the temperature is constant in the humidor, you can tackle the menace, which is the dreaded cigar beetle.
Telltale Signs Of Tobacco Beetles
While they may be tiny little buggers, you can still detect tobacco beetles.
Experts suggest keeping your humidor at a constant temperature is the best solution to keep it from getting infesting.
If you are struggling to figure out if there is a cigar beetle problem, there are telltale signs.
The following symptoms are almost guaranteed you have a bug problem in your cigars.
Cigar Beetles Leave Small Holes In The Tobacco
If you are confused about where the hole in your cigar came from, there is a straightforward way to figure it out.
In case of damage to the cigar wrappers, it will leave an imperfect hole accompanied by a muddled mark.
Typically, cigar beetles make holes that are perfectly round and black. These holes go into the tobacco and not just the surface.
If you see something like this, there is a 100% chance that your cigar has been infested.
Cigar Beetles Produce Black Dust
When a cigar beetle is snacking on the tobacco, it leaves residue. This residue appears in the form of black dust.
Do not confuse this with “tobacco dust.”
Want to test it out right now? Grab a cigar and turn it face down, tapping the cap.
If you have an infestation, you will see a fine, dust-like residue. If that is the case, you have a confirmed case of the cigar beetle.
Time to remove that cigar from your humidor.
How To Prevent Cigar Beetles?
Most new cigar smokers might be unaware of cigar beetles until they deal with them.
No cigar is safe from a potential infestation.
That said, there are still ways by which you can prevent an infestation and protect your cigars.
There is still hope for your prized cigar collection.
Let’s look into some steps you can take to keep your cigars safe from those pesky beetles.
Maintain Humidor’s Temperature And Humidity Level
As we mentioned before, cigar beetle eggs are present in virtually every cigar out there. It is only when they hatch is when it becomes a problem.
This is where your humidor comes into play. You need to take special care of the temperature and humidity level in the device.
Some might say that the humidor has always been in the same setting, but it has still caused an infestation.
The problem is that the external temperature and humidity also play a role.
Humidors don’t do well with traveling.
So if you had your humidor in your cabinet and now you keep it next to a window, you are risking infestation.
Also, ensure that you don’t have your cigar storage exposed to direct sunlight.
Do Weekly Checks
A cigar beetle infestation can happen at any time, and it spreads.
Ensure that you are doing weekly checks of your humidor for any signs of tobacco beetles.
Doing this might reveal an infestation in its early stages and prevent your cigars from going bad.
Every cigar should be protected, and you have to play your part in saving them before the beetles spread.
How To Get Rid Of Cigar Beetles
Once you have clear signs of tobacco beetles in your cigar, there are ways to minimize their growth or remove them altogether.
Following are some tips you can use to get rid of cigar beetles.
Freeze Your Cigars
While not all manufacturers may do this during shipping, it is always a good idea to refrigerate your cigars.
Cigar beetles don’t like freezing temperatures which forces them to be unalive. It also ruptures any egg larvae they may have laid.
Leave the Cellophane On
Most people remove the cellophane cover from the cigar before they put it in the humidor. Makes it look better in the case, but don’t do that.
The added layer will not only protect the cigar but also protect your other cigars from cross-contamination.
Clean Out the Humidor
Use a small vacuum to remove any dirt, and clean the humidor with a damp cloth to eliminate any remaining beetles.
A little care can go a long way when protecting and how long your cigars will last.
Can You Smoke a Cigar Infested with Tobacco Beetles?
This has been a growing debate in the tobacco community.
Some people might completely throw out the cigars that have been infected by the beetles.
Others may look to make the most of every penny they spent on the cigar.
It is all a matter of preference. If we look at it from a neutral standpoint, there are tobacco beetle eggs in every cigar in the world.
If they hatch and bore their way out of your cigar, you effectively have fewer beetles than before.
That said, the holes these cigar beetles leave can make it challenging to get a nice, smooth drag.
That, coupled with the disgust of smokers effectively smoking a bug, can deter them.
In conclusion, if you are worried that you can get sick smoking a cigar that has been infested by a cigar beetle, that will not happen.
It all boils down to how comfortable you are.
