Their scientific name is “Lasioderma serricorne” and their game is wreaking havoc on cigars and your humidor. If you smoke and collect cigars for a while, you will more than likely come into contact with one or two of these little monsters. Fortunately for cigar consumers today, finding these little guys has become a much rarer occurrence than years past. Cigar makers go to great links to eradicate their tobacco bales as well as finished cigars of these little tunneling stogie destroyers.

So exactly what is a cigar beetle and what does it do? They are brown in color and average 2-3 mm in length. The eggs are often laid on live tobacco leaves and that is how they end up in the bales and eventually cigars. The eggs like to hatch at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and, once sprouted, eat their way through a cigar. Once a female reaches adulthood she can lay another hundred eggs, which of course restarts this nightmarish circle of life.

Perfect example of cigar beetle holes. As you can see, they are right through the cellophane.

Like I stated earlier, most cigar growers and producers take very intensive steps to destroy these guys. The tobacco leaves and bales can be fumigated, as well as the finished cigars. The chemical used imparts no flavor and usually evaporates naturally after a few days. Many cigar factories I have visited even freeze their cigars before shipping. Adult beetles, along with their eggs, can’t survive for long in freezing temperatures.

So, what do you do if you encounter a beetle tunnel in one of your cigars? The answer is quite simple, freeze your cigars. At the first sign of beetles, remove all the cigars from the affected humidor. I go ahead and toss the tunnel filled cigars in the trash. Those without signs of infestation I place in freezer bags and toss them into my chest freezer in the garage. Let them sit for at least 72 hours in the freezer before removing them. I also strongly suggest giving them at least a day in the regular fridge to slowly thaw. After removing from the fridge, let them slowly come back to room temperature before putting them back in the humidor. Oh, did I mention that you need to clean out your humidor too? Yes, while your cigars are freezing away take that time to vacuum and wipe out all dead beetles, their residue, and any other debris that you encounter. Make that humidor as clean and sterile as possible. Also make sure you maintain a proper environment (65-70% humidity and 67-72° are pretty good numbers to strive for).

I hate having to write about these pests but if gone unchecked they can ruin your entire cigar collection. Like I stated earlier, your chances of encountering these pests are slimmer than years past, but I want to make sure you know how to handle these little devils if the situation ever arises. 

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida regional manager, Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server

Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris.