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Tobacco worm infestation appears when the storage temperature is high. You can realize if a cigar is infected with this plague when little holes in the external leafs of the tobacco appear. The worm, during its short period of life (two months approximately), can reach a size up to 5mm. Cigars should be taken away from the humidor if you doubt they are infected. After that, and after cleaning the humidor, non-infected cigars are put back in it. To be sure any larva is inside the cigars; they are placed in the freezer during a couple of days, protecting them carefully from any smell.
When they are already frozen, they should be defrosted gradually for avoiding the breaking of the external leafs, although it is recommended not to store the cigars in the freezers because of the low humidity levels.
The beetle (Lacioderma or Lasioderma serricorne) starts out as a harmless egg, laid deep in the tobacco leaf. Under suitable conditions (excess warmth and
humidity) the egg hatches and the resultant worm eats its way out of the cigar, leaving a small round hole and a trail of fine tobacco dust. It usually seems to stick to one cigar, but occasionally it travels along other cigars, eating as it goes, and creating a trough on the surface. At some stage the worms metamorphose into tiny brown beetles which are often found in the bottom of the boxes and may even fly to other boxes continuing the damage.The beetle problem is common to all cigars. Many manufacturers now freeze the cigars, especially before shipping to, or through, hot regions. adsense:250x250:1:1]