I found this article on the dreaded beatle. As I suspected it doesn't kill all of the eggs! There are several pest eggs that can live through long periods of time at very cold temps and hatch when the conditions are right.
Another common trick homeowners will try is to freeze
any food or other items they think is the
key to their problems. This is another futile
effort which is just a waste of time. Though
freezing will kill active adults and larva,
the eggs and pupa will readily survive these
conditions for many months. This means you
will have to keep items frozen for long
periods of time if you expect to break the
cycle and you will have to have access to
a large freezer
[Reply]
Originally Posted by scooter:
I found this article on the dreaded beatle. As I suspected it doesn't kill all of the eggs! There are several pest eggs that can live through long periods of time at very cold temps and hatch when the conditions are right.
Another common trick homeowners will try is to freeze
any food or other items they think is the
key to their problems. This is another futile
effort which is just a waste of time. Though
freezing will kill active adults and larva,
the eggs and pupa will readily survive these
conditions for many months. This means you
will have to keep items frozen for long
periods of time if you expect to break the
cycle and you will have to have access to
a large freezer
As mentioned, it must again be stressed that most cigars and other tobacco products no matter what method(s) are used to irradicate them, contain beetle eggs. Even if you freeze all your cigars as recommended, it is very hard, if not impossible, to kill all the beetle eggs.
Freezing isn't enough. If you're not storing your cigars properly, whatever your excuse for not doing so, beetle eggs can and will hatch in your smokes at some point, likely ruining at least some of your cigars.
Take a look at those pictures at the infested cigars in this thread once again. Don't let this happen to you.
Do your research. Find and use a cigar storage system that keeps your cigars in a relatively well-sealed, 65-70 degree F. temperature and 65-70% RH -- constantly monitored -- environment. Not doing this puts your precious smokes at high risk.
[Reply]
Originally Posted by ROTHNH:
As mentioned, it must again be stressed that most cigars and other tobacco products no matter what method(s) are used to irradicate them, contain beetle eggs. Even if you freeze all your cigars as recommended, it is very hard, if not impossible, to kill all the beetle eggs.
The science says otherwise...
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aez/41/1/87/_pdf
This is the abstract of the Japanese study. It indicates that 1) acclimated larva are the haredest in the life cycle to eradicate and 2) that near 100% mortality can be achieved given proper technique.
Even though Habanos now freezes all stock that leaves the warehouses, the boxes are mixed with older stock and other country stock as it makes it way through the supply chain. Can not say the same happens for other countries of origin thus reinfection can occur at any point the stock leaves the freezer.
Since your humi is the last stop in the supply chain you can cut off the life cycle (no matter where it got started) by freezing on arrival.
just my 2 cents
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Below is the Fahrenheit conversion of the white paper chart for beetle mortality that I redid when I discovered beetles in my party short cab.
Keep in mind that most home freezers at their lowest setting only go down to about 17 degrees F. As long as the larval stage has not been acclimated to 60 degrees for several months before freezing occurs, 4 days in a home freezer should result in 100% mortality.
Cigarette Beetle Mortality White Paper Chart
Stage/Temperature (F)/100% Mortalitiy (hours)
Egg............-4...................1
..................5...................4
..................14.................12
..................23.................48
..................32................240
..................41................336
Larval .........-4.................1
..................5..................3
.................14.................12
.................23.................96
.................32.................288
.................41.................336
Acclimated larval (59 degrees for 1-3 months)
.................-4.................1
..................5..................6
.................14.................24
.................23.................504
.................32.................1176
.................41.................1680
Pupal.........-4..................1
.................5...................2
.................14.................4
.................23.................48
.................32.................288
.................41.................840
Adult..........-4.................1
.................5...................2
.................14.................2
.................23.................72
.................32.................288
.................41.................840
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