Tobacco beetles, also known as cigar or cigarette beetles, are a tiny but tough enemy for cigar collectors. The first sign of trouble may be a tiny pin hole in the outer leaf of one of your prized cigars, but by the time the beetle has bored through to the outside, he has lived his entire life cycle. Along the way, he and his hundreds of siblings have done hidden damage throughout your humidor, and probably prepared the next generation to do even more damage.

Vigilant, the cigar-storage experts, wants you to know how these infestations start, how to control them, and how to prevent future outbreaks in your humidor.

The Short, Destructive Life of a Tobacco Beetle

[caption id="attachment_1304" align="alignright" width="250"] Cigars damaged by tobacco beetles[/caption]

These beetles (Latin name Lasioderma serricorne) in their adult stage are less than one-tenth of an inch long. A reddish brown color, they appear hairy and hunch-backed, with a large head tucked down into the abdomen. One little beetle can’t do a lot of damage, but these little guys travel in the hundreds and reproduce large numbers of tiny but destructive offspring.

Female beetles, once inside the humidor, invade the cigar through open ends or yes, right through cellophane wrappers. They lay eggs inside the finest cigars – they are very good at knowing which are the best in your collection – and then burrow out to the outer layers, creating tiny pinholes as they emerge. The eggs are not visible without a magnifying glass, but the most destructive stage begins when the eggs hatch. The voracious larvae eat all the tobacco they can find before entering a comfy cocoon for two weeks or so, the only time the creature is not destructive. Adults emerge and the burrowing begins again. The entire life cycle is a mere ten weeks.

You may not know your humidor has been invaded, but a damaged cigar will have a sticky draw and a musty taste. The beetles often leave a reddish dust on the insides of the humidor, but the real telltale sign is pin holes in the outer leaves.

How to Rid Your Cigar Humidor of Tobacco Beetles

There is some disagreement among experts about how to kick the pests out without damaging the humidor. Saving the cigars that have not been infested is tricky, too. Most experts agree that the freezer is the safest place to restore the undamaged cigars. The cold temperatures will kill all stages of the beetles’ life cycle, if you follow specific instructions. Some say it takes six days to be sure; others contend that three days in the freezer is time enough and won’t hurt the cigars.

Inspect the cigars for damage, including misshapen or “beat-up” looking cigars, those with holes in the outer wrappers, or ones that have live beetles visible in the folds or ends. Destroy those, removing them completely from the house. Do not discard them anywhere near the kitchen. Tobacco beetles have been known to camp out in flour and spice containers, and in paprika they are not even visible!

Once the damaged stock is out, take the rest of the cigars and put them in groups of 3 or 4 into plastic freezer bags. Put them into the freezer at the coldest setting. After two days, it’s safe to increase the freezer temperature one setting, but keep the cigars there for another two days to be sure all eggs are destroyed. Don’t thaw them at room temperature, but place them in the refrigerator for 24 hours before putting them back in the humidor.

Meanwhile, the humidor will have to be treated. Thoroughly dust the inside with a dusting cloth, then wipe all the interior surfaces with a weak solution of ammonia and water. Do not use a pesticide; it will taint the cigars. Ammonia doesn’t seem to affect the cigars, and will kill any beetles that may have escaped notice. Inspect it closely with a flashlight before replacing your prized cigars back into the humidor.

Preventing Outbreaks in Your Humidor

Tobacco beetles hate the cold. They cannot survive at temperatures below 70 degrees F. The reason the bugs hatched in your humidor is simple: It got too warm and cozy in there. Tobacco beetle eggs will not hatch at lower temperatures.

Prevention of beetle outbreaks is fairly easy if you live in colder climes. Store the humidor in a cool place and keep a watch on the temperature inside the cabinet or box. In warmer environments, it may be necessary to invest in a temperature-controlled cabinet. If both humidity and temperature are controlled consistently, the cigars will be safe from these little red monsters and the damage they inflict. You’ll have worry-free cigar storage, and these pests won’t bug you anymore.

– By Vigilant Woodworks

W. Curtis Draper, third oldest tobacconist in the U.S., made the best of a bad situation when they had to move out of the DC location where they had done business for 20 years. Their new location, next to the White House gift shop, is twice as spacious as the old store, and features Vigilant Woodworks’ custom-designed mahogany millwork and cigar display cases – along with a walk-in cigar humidor.

Superior expertise in fine cabinetry and cigar storage made Vigilant Woodworks a natural choice to manufacture the new store’s interior displays, counters, and cigar storage solutions. Vigilant’s designers worked with owner Matt Krimm and D.C.-based project designer and architect, Elizabeth Hafner from Collective Architecture, to create an impressive entrance and shopping space designed to be both inviting and comfortable.

Wood-and-glass display cabinets, constructed of Moabi mahogany, give the shop a “gentleman’s store” appearance. Spanish cedar shelving displays the desktop humidors and other premium cigar and pipe products. The cabinets are humidified with custom Guardian electronic humidification systems, and there is a walk-in humidor for storage of the extensive fine cigar collection. Stylish seating areas were added to accommodate up to ten shoppers, a luxury they couldn’t have in the smaller store.

[caption id="attachment_1273" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Vigilant’s custom cabinetry and Spanish cedar shelving make an attractive corner display.[/caption]

W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist was founded in 1887 by William Curtis Draper. It is the oldest full service tobacconist in the District of Columbia and the third oldest in the United States. Draper offers a full array of cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, and smoking accessories to a national clientele.

[caption id="attachment_1274" align="aligncenter" width="400"] The new Draper’s store has a “gentleman’s store” ambience.[/caption]

– By Vigilant Woodworks

Considering a cigar humidor? Here are some steps to help determine the best size and style to fit your needs.

Collection Size
Determine how many cigars you want to store and the size of your cigar collection. Our end tables store 300 to 1,500 cigars; our armoires 1,000 to 2,000 cigars and our display cabinets 1,000 to 2,000 cigars. Consider future growth of your collection.

Style
Consider where the humidor will be located and the décor of the room. Do you like traditional or contemporary styles? Will temperature and humidity affect your humidor? If so, consider a cigar cabinet with temperature control.

Wood & Finish
The wood and finish of a cigar humidor will give it character and make it unique. Vigilant uses mahogany as a standard exterior wood because it is mold, decay and mildew resistant. Other custom wood types include cherry, walnut and oak are available.

Humidor interiors are built using Spanish cedar for the drawers to enhance the cigars’ taste, while mahogany is used to line the cabinets. Humidors can be completed with a choice of finish like our Shaker Maple, Chestnut, Cordovan or Ebonized Black.

Interior Components
Think about whether you will be storing loose cigars and will need bins with dividers, available in end tables and display cabinets. For long-term storage, shelves work well and are available in end tables, armoires and displays.

Your choice should ultimately be based on your personal preferences and what will store your cigar collection the best.

You don’t have to be a cigar aficionado to choose a cigar humidor, and there are several options available at reasonable prices. Keep a few simple points in mind and you’ll find a humidor to meet your cigar storage needs.

Materials
Choice of materials is consistently the first factor in selecting a good humidor. Spanish cedar lining is overwhelmingly the first choice and for good reason. It absorbs water well and keeps moisture levels consistent. It is warp-resistant and will keep a good seal.

Mahogany is another alternative, not only for aesthetic reasons but for function as well. It is pricier, however and usually used on the exterior of the humidor with a Spanish cedar lining.

Larger humidors as well as those of lower quality will sometimes use plastic, synthetic wood or metal. These materials are not recommended. None of them are superior to wood, especially mahogany.

Seal
The humidor should seal well but it doesn’t need to be airtight. Some airflow should be present to avoid the growth of fungus. A humidification system should keep just the right amount of moisture present at all times.

Humidity System
The next important part of a good cigar humidor is the humidity system. There are two parts: the unit that releases and absorbs water (humidifier) and a mechanism to measure the humidity level (hygrometer).

The humidifier is a small sponge soaked with distilled water. Propylene glycol may be added to alter the aerated water exchange. The sponge may be contained in a small basket-like unit and attached to the lid via a magnet or Velcro.

Temperature control is important so cigars are stored in optimum conditions. More expensive humidors may have a self-contained thermal control unit. However, in the average cigar smoker’s home meeting the ideal 68°F/20°C mark isn’t difficult due to modern air conditioning and heating systems.

Size
The last element to consider is the size of the humidor. Smokers who enjoy smoking cigars once in a while will need only a small cigar cabinet designed to hold 10 to 20 cigars. This not only keeps the expense down, but simplifies humidity and temperature regulation. Cigar aficionados will want a cigar cabinet larger in size that can easily hold 100 to 400 cigars.

Deciding on a humidor ultimately comes down to personal preference. With an assortment of styles, individual taste is as important as selecting a cigar itself.

Interested in having a place of your own to enjoy a good cigar? An indoor smoking room is an ideal setting, especially during cold winter months or in places where indoor smoking is not allowed. With a little planning, it can become a reality and a cigar lover’s favorite place in the house.

Smoking rooms and can be achieved through proper climate and ventilation. Basements are popular because they are out of the way from the rest of the home. These rooms can also serve as an entertaining space and can be outfitted with a bar, television, pool table or poker table.

The first step in smoking room planning is determining a budget, which will help guide choices of furniture, storage and other elements. The next major decision is the kind of ventilation system, essential so that the smoke and cigar smell stays in the smoking room and doesn’t seep out into the rest of the house. Ventilation systems vary in cost depending upon what the system involves and the size of the room.

Some cigar smokers choose an exhaust fan system, locating a fan outside of the house and ducts or vents on the ceiling of the room. The fan can be controlled by a switch and some even have electronic timers so the room can be cleared for a portion of time after the smoking is finished. This is the most economical system; more elaborate air conditioning or central air systems can be installed, but will cost a lot more.

Once the ventilation system is chosen, the ceiling and walls can be finished to hide ducts or vents. Then the really fun part begins-the interior decorating and styling. Furniture, cigar storage, artwork, a wine rack even, can be added to complete the room. Some men like to use their smoking room as a “man cave,” displaying sports memorabilia or anything else that may not fit in the rest of the house, while others choose a more basic, masculine style.

Cigar storage is an important choice to properly house any size collection. Choosing the best cigar storage depends not only on collection size but location, temperature and style. Vigilant offers several different kinds of humidors, including desktops, end tables, armoires and display cabinets. Humidors are available in different styles and finishes to complement the décor of any room. Our desktop humidors hold smaller collections of 100 to 200 cigars, while our display cabinets can hold up to 2,000 cigars. A temperature controlled humidor will help ensure proper storage and humidity control of your cigar collection.

The best way to plan the project is to stay within a budget and choose whatever fits your personal style. You can go as basic or elaborate as you want after that. Ultimately, the rooms is yours to enjoy and once completed, you’ll have a great space to relax in and entertain guests.

For more information and storage tips, visit our Cigar Humidor Education Center.