Little white bugs...WTH???

M1903A1 · 08-03-2010, 12:14 PM

Today was a first in my cigar world.

As a rule, when I get cigars I inspect them closely before putting them in the freezer. Once in a while I've found minor evidence of beetle damage, but never have I seen an actual, moving bug.

Well, today I opened a box, and was about to start an inspection when I saw something move. It was small, white and reminded me of a mite or a louse. As I started looking more closely I found that they were present on nearly all the cigars.

No obvious beetle holes (though the sticks did look a little banged-up). Needless to say I threw the sticks back in the box and stuck the entire contents of the package--boxes and all--in the freezer.

Is there some kind of mite with an affinity for tobacco, or was I seeing beetles at a low stage of development??

T.G · 08-03-2010, 12:16 PM

How large where they? And what did they look like? (more like a iconic "bug" or more like a "caterpilliar")

Don Fernando · 08-03-2010, 12:17 PM

this is probably a wood louse, wont damage your cigars. They will disappear when the temp drops.

poker · 08-03-2010, 12:19 PM

Might be this:

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar.../top10faq.html

Other bugs you may occasionally run into are wood mites -- small, white insects that are often the result of opening a fresh wooden box of cigars. The good news is that these mites won't harm the cigars, and they don't live long enough to seriously damage your humidor.

markem · 08-03-2010, 12:21 PM

Did they look like the pic in this thread:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14843

T.G · 08-03-2010, 12:25 PM

These are tobacco beetles -

Left to right:

Pupae, adult, larva (egg stage not shown)

Adult is 2-3mm in length.

If it's not one of them, I don't know if you have anything to worry about or not.

M1903A1 · 08-03-2010, 02:15 PM

Okay, I'd say these are wood mites. Tiny crawling things smaller than the head of a pin.

Thanks for the info...another reason this is such a great site!

mosesbotbol · 08-03-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1903A1

Okay, I'd say these are wood mites. Tiny crawling things smaller than the head of a pin.

Yes, they sound like wood mites. They love the glue on the bands. I had them once on a box of Upmann No. 2's and kept coming back. Took 3 rounds of wiping to get rid of them, but never damaged the cigars.

hotreds · 08-03-2010, 02:19 PM

Fry 'em up in a little garlic butter!

Ratters · 08-03-2010, 10:04 PM

It's just plume.

SSDVC · 08-04-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotreds

Fry 'em up in a little garlic butter!

Damn, that made me feel a hunger pang !

DBall · 08-04-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratters

It's just plume.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That's awesome...

M1903A1 · 08-04-2010, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratters

It's just plume.

Mmmmmm....self-propelled plume.

(Does this mean that plume can be transplanted to other cigars?? AWESOME!!)

JohnE1000 · 08-05-2010, 12:19 PM

That sucks

08-03-2010, 12:14 PM	#1
M1903A1 Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 1060 W. Addison Posts: 1,573 Trading: (4)	Little white bugs...WTH??? Today was a first in my cigar world. As a rule, when I get cigars I inspect them closely before putting them in the freezer. Once in a while I've found minor evidence of beetle damage, but never have I seen an actual, moving bug. Well, today I opened a box, and was about to start an inspection when I saw something move. It was small, white and reminded me of a mite or a louse. As I started looking more closely I found that they were present on nearly all the cigars. No obvious beetle holes (though the sticks did look a little banged-up). Needless to say I threw the sticks back in the box and stuck the entire contents of the package--boxes and all--in the freezer. Is there some kind of mite with an affinity for tobacco, or was I seeing beetles at a low stage of development?? __________________ "It's the cigars that bring us together, but it's the people that cause us to stay."

08-03-2010, 12:16 PM	#2
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,543 Trading: (37)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? How large where they? And what did they look like? (more like a iconic "bug" or more like a "caterpilliar")

08-03-2010, 12:17 PM	#3
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? this is probably a wood louse, wont damage your cigars. They will disappear when the temp drops. __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

08-03-2010, 12:19 PM	#4
poker 1:11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kelly Location: SoCal Posts: 5,280 Trading: (7)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? Might be this: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar.../top10faq.html Other bugs you may occasionally run into are wood mites -- small, white insects that are often the result of opening a fresh wooden box of cigars. The good news is that these mites won't harm the cigars, and they don't live long enough to seriously damage your humidor. __________________ Cigar Asylum: A cigar board birthed without agendas, without profiting, and without advertisements. Amor puro Character is what you do when no one is watching

08-03-2010, 12:21 PM	#5
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,530 Trading: (47)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? Did they look like the pic in this thread: http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14843 __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

08-03-2010, 12:25 PM	#6
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,543 Trading: (37)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? These are tobacco beetles - Left to right: Pupae, adult, larva (egg stage not shown) Adult is 2-3mm in length. If it's not one of them, I don't know if you have anything to worry about or not.

08-03-2010, 02:15 PM	#7
M1903A1 Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 1060 W. Addison Posts: 1,573 Trading: (4)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? Okay, I'd say these are wood mites. Tiny crawling things smaller than the head of a pin. Thanks for the info...another reason this is such a great site! __________________ "It's the cigars that bring us together, but it's the people that cause us to stay."

08-03-2010, 02:19 PM	#9
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,658 Trading: (63)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? Fry 'em up in a little garlic butter! __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

08-03-2010, 10:04 PM	#10
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? It's just plume.

08-05-2010, 12:19 PM	#14
JohnE1000 Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 393 Trading: (39)	Re: Little white bugs...WTH??? That sucks