Microwaves for bugs on tobacco??? I'm not so sure that would be safe.
Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy that were first developed for the military in the form of Radar. Radar is an acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging. The first consumer microwave ovens were called "Radar ranges." (Brand name omitted) Microwaves have a side effect when they are used in non-radar applications. Radar waves add energy to anything that has oxygen as a component. The microwave energy induces a vibration on the oxygen bonds in any molecule containing same. As the molecules begin to vibrate, they heat up. Since food items have oxygen in the form of water, and organic (food) materials also contain oxygen as part of their structure, the individual molecules within whatever you put into the oven will heat up. Since radar waves are not a thermal form of heating (such as an oven, or a fire) strange things can happen to food items. Said heating would definitely kill off bugs and eggs from bugs, but what would it do to the tobacco? When you expose organic substances to microwave energy, at a certain point, individual molecules begin to degrade and break apart, creating whole new series of molecules. I'm not sure that it would be safe to use the tobacco after it had been microwaved.
Interestingly, you can heat a rock in a microwave, so long as that rock contains oxygen in it's molecular structure. A mineral like Flourite for example (Formula: CaF2), has no oxygen in it's molecular structure and will therefore not heat up in a microwave. Don't try this at home! Heating rocks in a microwave can cause explosive results!
OldDinosaurWes H. - Amateur tobacco grower and rock and mineral guy.