What can I do to avoid tobacco beetles?

If you see a cigar beetle, it is already too late! But can you prevent it? What are the signs?

You may find small larvae in your humidor. You may notice a powdery dust on your cigars or in the humidor which is, in fact, cigar beetle droppings. Beetles may suddenly fly towards you when you open the humidor. And you will definitely notice small holes in the cigar wrappers where the beetles have eaten their way out of the cigar after hatching. In all of these cases, it is too late, since many cigars will already be hollowed out from within. The egg would have been deposited on the raw tobacco leaf before the cigar was rolled. On their way to maturity, the larvae eat and eat and eat! It takes about 120 days for the egg to develop into the flying beetle.

You will have to dispose of all infected cigars. Then the humidor must be thoroughly cleaned. Uninfected cigars could still contain eggs or larvae and should be placed in the freezer.

Cigar makers have long been fumigating their finished cigars. This does not help fight the larvae, however, since they only die when exposed to a temperature of minus 12°C over several days. This is the reason why many importers freeze the cigars before delivery to the retailer. If you find yourself with a beetle infestation on your hands or if you are concerned about the souvenirs you've brought home from holiday, you can do the same at home. Care should be taken to ensure that the cigars are sealed and protected against foreign odours. Afterwards, you should thaw the cigars as slowly as possible so that the wrapper doesn't split.

In the following video the chief editor of Cigar Aficionado Magazine talks about the tobacco beetle attack in his humidor.

The best option is to always purchase cigars from a reputable dealer. Souvenirs from Cuba, on the other hand, may pose a significant risk.