Cigars/Wood Mites
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Question
I have seen wood mites on cigars from a vendor recently. I know these are not tobacco beetles as I have seen those too. These wood mites are very tiny and white. I have heard these eat the band glue but also possibly wrapper glue. Can they do more damage? Should I try freezing my cigars to kill them or do I need to bother? Will they die off after a while? Thanks for any help.
Hi Anthony,
Wood/tobacco mites are indeed very harmless and while they have been known to feed on the vegetable glue used to adhere cigar bands, these mites actually prefer water so you may find them crawling over your humidification device or feeding on any other water sources inside your humidor (this is why it's no longer advised that people keep a dish of distilled water inside their humidor as it will cause these mites to thrive.)
Although they're harmless, the sight of these mites can cause alarm for many people. I (along with many people) personally can't stand the sight of tobacco mites in humidors or stomach the idea that little bugs - albeit harmless - are walking all over my cigars so to keep my humidors neat and tidy, I'll occasionally wipe down my cigars with a soft cloth and vacuum my humidors with a soft-bristle attachment.
The lifespan of these tobacco mites is only a couple of weeks and because they do not live inside the cigars, freezing your cigars is not necessary. An occasional light cleaning and vacuuming of your humidor and cigars is perfectly fine.
Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.
Regards,
James
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you very much for that James. I did not know they prefer water, that is very good to know. It is very hard to find information on these on the web. | ||
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James Yee
Expertise
My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience
I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)
Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto
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