Expert: M J Robbins - 9/29/2009

Question
There are some white litte bugs moving aboute in my humidor on my cigars.  I don't have any holes in my cigars. Are these cigar beetles?

Answer
Who the heck knows without seeing them
BUT BUGS ARE NOT GOOD
Take out all the cigars and isolate them in 3 groups in zip lock bags to find the ones with bugs. Cigars will retain moisture in a zip lock bag for up to 2 weeks.
Look carefully for holes in the cigars and try to pick out the bad ones to throw away.Then watch the 3 groups to find and destroy the other bad cigars.
Meanwhile wipe the box with Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol and throw away the humidity device and buy a new one. Bugs could lay eggs in the humidity device so it has to go. Close the humidor up for a few days then open it to air it out for a few days. After a week if no bugs are in the bags with the cigars then replace them in the humidor after replenishing the Humidification and starting over.

Avoid buying the cigars that brought in the bugs if you can figure it out as some companies just have a problem. Always leave your cigars in the wrappers they come in as they help in keeping mold and bugs isolated although I have seen the bugs eat through the plastic. In my experience some companies just have problems with rushing the cigars to market and neglect some processes in preparing the cigars. These have a lot of bugs and should just be avoided. Cuban cigars lately do not have bugs but I have seen whole humidors wiped out by bugs brought in by Cuban cigars (or fakes).