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(1) Not necessarily. (2) higher than you can.Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?
THEY CRAWL DOWN WALLS???Bed bugs often come from cracks in the walls, beams or ceilings. They are not limited to traveling by floors as we are! i have seen them crawl down walls, and then onto the bed if it touches the wall. The top bunk will not spare you. So yes, it is very possible that they can crawl down (not necessarily up) right onto the topbunk. Or, they can already be in the mattress when you arrive!
You might consider putting your clothes in plastic bags that are ceiled at night, so you do not carry them to the next albergue. And you will save yourself the trouble of spending half a day, de-bugging your clothes/equipment. Some pilgrims carry heavy duty black plastic bags and put their packs in it at night to prevent the little buggers from getting a free ride the next morning.
Why wouldn't they? They're insects. Be happy they are not flying insects!THEY CRAWL DOWN WALLS??
Yes.THEY CRAWL DOWN WALLS???
That's been my experience. My first Camino was late August/September, and I saw many pilgrims with bites. I was also bitten, presumably by that bedbug that I saw crawling on the wall or his friend.I will be curious to see if my next trip (hoping for the early season in 2022) will avoid them by being early in the year rather than toward the tail end when 300,000 have already trekked through.
Oh, that's harsh. They've been our constant companions, probably, since we set down a few bear-skins in the corner of a cave. They mean us no harm. They are not known vectors of any disease.I'm hoping they've all starved to death while we're away.
Unfortunately they may possibly be hungrier than ever when we return to the Camino.I'm hoping they've all starved to death while we're away.
And for those who have bad reactions that cause itching we cannot help but scratch: the bites can get infected quite badly. That hasn't happened to me, but I do fear it because my reactions are so very awful (painful as well as burning itchiness). I care less about the intent of the creature and more about the result of the bite.Oh, that's harsh. They've been our constant companions, probably, since we set down a few bear-skins in the corner of a cave. They mean us no harm. They are not known vectors of any disease.
They're just an absolute sodding nuisance
I too was bitten in Conques. The following day I had the characteristic 3 bites in a line. Once again I failed to pay attention and slept in the same bunk. 12 bites in total and boy did I suffer.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
How could you "see" you were divebombed by bedbuggs when they come out in the dark?...they sure must love garlic breath!They are on the top bunks! After a great garlic soup in 2007 I watched as my hiking companion on the lower bunk next to mine was dive bombed. No bites tho as we had permethrin treated sleeping gear and use DEET on open skin.
Permethrin is not a deterrent and won't kill on contact. However, it has been shown to kill bedbugs over time. That's why I treat my sleeping gear, the inside of my pack and all of my cloth stuff sacks with permethrin. I figure that if they do manage to get inside my gear that they won't come out alive, and I won't be transporting them from albergue to albergue - or home.They are on the top bunks! After a great garlic soup in 2007 I watched as my hiking companion on the lower bunk next to mine was dive bombed. No bites tho as we had permethrin treated sleeping gear and use DEET on open skin.
Hi Kiwi-d, I was wondering if you were able to to purchase a tiny bottle of Permathrin, or if you transferred a small amount from a larger size into a small spray bottle.I carried a tiny bottle of Permethrin with me and sprayed my backpack inside and out before flying home.
Beware cause & effect: the more people walking the more people available to be bit. The more people available to be bit there'll be more people amongst that group who react to getting bit. People who get bit and react report their misery, people who get bit and don't react don't even notice. The summer/fall increase in bug-bite reports is more likely related to the prevalence of people than bugs. A critter that can go 400 days without a snack isn't going to be bothered by the season let alone our planning calendarI also hear that bug bites increase as the walking season wears on ino summer and fall.
Does anyone know the name of the permethrin based spray sold in Spain? It is difficult to source in Canada.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
Sorry Bill,Does anyone know the name of the permethrin based spray sold in Spain? It is difficult to source in Canada.
I found this one on Amazon.ca - at 0.35% permethrin it's not as quite as strong as the Sawyer brand I buy in the US which is 0.5%.Does anyone know the name of the permethrin based spray sold in Spain? It is difficult to source in Canada.
Yes. I mentioned this in one of my posts above, but it bears repeating.Please bear in mind that Permethrin is not a repellant and that while it will kill our constant companions it will do so only slowly and with varying efficacy. Its a good, long-term, precaution to help you avoid becoming a vector. The rest; put Bed Bugs into the forum search engine but devote several days to the quest.
Hi Chrissy. I transferred a small amount into a tiny spray bottle. It was just enough to spray the bag inside and out, as I was very conscious of weight, of course.Hi Kiwi-d, I was wondering if you were able to to purchase a tiny bottle of Permathrin, or if you transferred a small amount from a larger size into a small spray bottle.
No. I was in the top bunk in a municipale and ended up quite sick from bed bug bites on my thigh. People put their backpacks up on the bed and that is a possible source for infestation. Watching one of Dixie's (Wunderlust on youtube) videos of her camino with her sister...they picked up bedbugs and set about putting their bags, clothes etc into bath with hot water. Bedbugs floated out of their gear en masse. No beds are safe, sadly.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
Bed bugs often come from cracks in the walls, beams or ceilings. They are not limited to traveling by floors as we are! i have seen them crawl down walls, and then onto the bed if it touches the wall. The top bunk will not spare you. So yes, it is very possible that they can crawl down (not necessarily up) right onto the topbunk. Or, they can already be in the mattress when you arrive!
You might consider putting your clothes in plastic bags that are ceiled at night, so you do not carry them to the next albergue. And you will save yourself the trouble of spending half a day, de-bugging your clothes/equipment. Some pilgrims carry heavy duty black plastic bags and put their packs in it at night to prevent the little buggers from getting a free ride the next morning.
No doubt on The Bedbug Forum there is a lot of discussion and anticipation of the return of those delicious pilgrims! Poor things, must be hard times!I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
I never saw a bedbug on the Camino. I was there in May /June 2019 and left my pack either on the floor, hanging from the corner of the bunk or in a locker if it was next to the bed. I travel light (2 kilos) and have one of those roll-top waterproof bags inside my pack for my few items. Never had a problem and usually only slept in a silk sleeping bag liner and used the communal blankets if it was cold.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
- We each brought Z Fence Z Clips which creates a protection bubble around us, keeping mosquitos and other various bugs away. Before one of our trips, I contacted the customer service of the manufacturer and asked if the Z Clips are effective against bed bugs. They are! So I wore one on a lanyard around my neck when we were hiking and also during the night. Here's a photo of the Z Clip.View attachment 90697 I'm pretty sure each tablet offers protection for 30 days. A new clip comes with two tablets, so enough protection for a 5 week camino.
I'm in the US and could only find them on ebay.These look interesting.
Has anyone found these outside the US?
Postage alone is A$39
Not even Armageddon will stop bed bugs. Much prayer and fasting may help. Good Luck.
I was curious about them, too. Now I don't have to do a search. You are often a good detective @trecile.I'm in the US and could only find them on ebay.
GregI never saw a bedbug on the Camino. I was there in May /June 2019 and left my pack either on the floor, hanging from the corner of the bunk or in a locker if it was next to the bed. I travel light (2 kilos) and have one of those roll-top waterproof bags inside my pack for my few items. Never had a problem and usually only slept in a silk sleeping bag liner and used the communal blankets if it was cold.
Many people - perhaps a majority - do not react to the bitesMy husband didn't get a single one (twin beds!)
The Z Fence Z Clips seem to be made or distributed by Evergreen Enterprises, who say "We're a leading vertically-integrated manufacturer and distributor of decorative flags, home furnishings, garden décor, licensed sports product, and fashion accessories."These look interesting.
Has anyone found these outside the US?
I assume this would be those non-specialists in pest management. I wonder what exactly they said, and on what basis. It seems the capsules slowly release essential oils. I have not yet seen any evidence that essential oils are effective against bedbugs, and especially in the concentrations that would come from these capsules. However, I expect that the customer service person in this case just said "yes". If there were evidence, it would be probably be stated on the packaging as it would increase sales! If there is no evidence, laws of "truth in advertising" apply.I contacted the customer service of the manufacturer and asked if the Z Clips are effective against bed bugs. They are!
Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs?
Don't they call those fire lighters?Sorry Bill,
I don‘t know the name of that spray.
If you can’t find it, may I suggest a mini-flamethrower.
If we are straying into the historical then I will tell you about when we visited Acapulco in the early 1980's and stayed in a very cheap hotel.Whilst in private accommodation in Portugal, probably 30 years ago - maybe somewhere in the Peneda Geres area - my wife insisted that I deploy our anti-bug equipment.
This was in the days before the irrational ‘liquids’ prohibition on air travel, so I had a pint of permethrin (OK, neat sheep-dip from my farming neighbour) and four empty margerine tubs.
Each leg of our ‘cama matrimonial’ went into a tub, with a good inch of liquid in there to deter the wildlife.
Total and utter waste of time. There were cockroaches the size of rats in there. God alone knows what size the actual rats were.
We fled at about 0500, well before daybreak. I left my favourite pair of underpants behind - and they were clean. I still miss them.
At the first opportunity we stopped for a brew in the forest, in torrential rain - which had been the case for days. I fired up the gas stove about a minute before a ranger pulled up in his truck and shouted ‘no fuego!’.
I didn’t speak much Portuguese, and he didn’t need much English to understand that tea was being made and drunk, and it was non-negotiable.
Then the sun came out.
Insects? Born survivors.
Then there was the time, several months later when we were driving West to East across the trans-Canadian hwy and we called into a Youth Hostel somewhere East of Banf, way out in the sticks.If we are straying into the historical then I will tell you about when we visited Acapulco in the early 1980's and stayed in a very cheap hotel.
It was hot and so I went to the outside shower cubicle for a cold shower to cool off. The drain didn't have a grate over it and halfway through my shower I wondered why the waste water was backing up.
I looked down at the drain hole and saw a giant cockroach staring up at me she/he was so big that the drain was completely blocked. I think that she was annoyed that I was disturbing her repose and was probably thinking about moving me along.
I was so impressed with the cockroach that I called out to my wife to come over and have a look. For some reason, after that, she (the wife) refused to shower while we were there.
If we are straying into the historical then I will tell you about when we visited Acapulco in the early 1980's and stayed in a very cheap hotel.
It was hot and so I went to the outside shower cubicle for a cold shower to cool off. The drain didn't have a grate over it and halfway through my shower I wondered why the waste water was backing up.
I looked down at the drain hole and saw a giant cockroach staring up at me she/he was so big that the drain was completely blocked. I think that she was annoyed that I was disturbing her repose and was probably thinking about moving me along.
I was so impressed with the cockroach that I called out to my wife to come over and have a look. For some reason, after that, she (the wife) refused to shower while we were there.
I’ve tried, but I can’t like that twice; once for the natural insect repellant review and once more for the 9/8. Have a word with Ivar.A Fonda in El Burgo, Andalusia, Malaga Province, late ‘70’s. Nine of us in an eight bed room (I never asked). You could hear the fleas hopping. I woke in the thick dawn with nary a bite. Sopa de Ajo, marvelous stuff
I can't beat that Badger sized cockroach but I might best you on quantity.OK, insect top-trumps it is!
India 1996. Kerala. Mrs HtD and I have planned about three weeks of inexpensive backpacking, reliving a youth which didn’t exist, having been confined to a week in a caravan on the Isle of Man, generally.
Day 2 in the Hotel Seagull in Ernakulam, Mrs HtD glimpses part of a cockroach the size of a badger trying unsuccessfully to hide behind a rucksack.
All pretensions to easy-going hippyish Asian backpacking fell away in an instant, my Amex card was seized, a taxi called and we were sipping G&T on the manicured lawns of the 5* Malabar hotel ten minutes later. Men with sticks patrolled the grounds constantly beating seven bells out of anything which might distress the guests.
Currently I’m stalking three rats which have taken up residence in my barn. MrsHtD has been out to reason with them and give them a few days to leave of their own accord. No wonder so few Buddhists make a successful career in pest control. Meanwhile I’ve been polishing the 12-bore. Generally I’m a ‘live and let live’ kind of chap, but the rats are a bit too close for comfort. I’ll give them a warning shot first.
The incident that I mentioned previously was also in Astorga. But it could happen anywhere. I have stayed there a second time with no issues.In Astorga I had the bottom bunk and my friend had the top bunk
The only time that I've actually seen bedbugs they were on the bunk above mine, and crawling up the wall. (or maybe down)
Like the rain, I suspect the bed bugs fall on both the deserving and undeserving. I can't say I'm sure what their criteria is, but I think it is something else.In Astorga I had the bottom bunk and my friend had the top bunk. I had zero bites and he had over thirty bites. So I guess you choose your bunk and the let the Camino provide the bedbugs if you need a lesson and are deserving.
SLEEPING on the top bunk has no relevance to stopping bed bug bites.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
NoI have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
I'm not an expert, bit I worked as a hospi so I know a little about bedbugs (including how to say 'bedbug in at least 6 languages). Despite their name, they don't live in the bedding. They tend to live in crevices and cracks in the building such as between floor boards or (in the albergue we worked at) above the fibre tiles of the false ceiling. Top bunks are therefore probably only slightly safer than lower as bedbugs can crawl a very long way. You should move the entire frame of the bunks away from the wall and use an S hook to hang your backpack from the frame of the bunks - they do like to lay their eggs in fabric and can cling on to the outside. Buen camino (when we can.).I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
Thank you for sharing your experience. We can never be too vigilent in our travels.Nope. I battled the little creeps as a hospitalera. Pictures of what to look for bedbugs
I stayed in only 3 private rooms during mu camino, rest of the time in bunkbeds. And one of these private rooms had bedbugs! They're not free of them either!My wife and I have walked the Camino Frances three times, St Jean to Santiago. To my knowledge, we've not experienced any bed bugs. Precautions we've used which may have helped:
During our third camino, we stayed in private rooms every night, so did not have to bring sleeping bags or towells with us. Each night we had fresh bedsheets and bath linens. However, we still sprayed Permethrin on our packs pre-camino and used the Z Clips on lanyards when we walked and at night.
- Several days prior to travel, I sprayed permethrin on the inside and outside of our backpacks and day packs, sleeping bags, sleep sheets.
- We used several different sized stuff sacks inside our backpacks to organize clothes, outer gear, bathroom items, etc.
- Our first two caminos, we mostly stayed in albergues with bunk beds. My wife and I usually selected one bunk bed, with us rotating who sleeps on the top bunk and the other sleeping on the bottom bunk. I brought large (3 inch) carabiners that were large enough to clip onto a bar on the bunkbed, then hang our backpacks onto the carabiner. This kept the backpacks off the floor and the bed.
- We each brought Z Fence Z Clips which creates a protection bubble around us, keeping mosquitos and other various bugs away. Before one of our trips, I contacted the customer service of the manufacturer and asked if the Z Clips are effective against bed bugs. They are! So I wore one on a lanyard around my neck when we were hiking and also during the night. Here's a photo of the Z Clip.View attachment 90697 I'm pretty sure each tablet offers protection for 30 days. A new clip comes with two tablets, so enough protection for a 5 week camino.
Bob
I stayed in only 3 private rooms during mu camino, rest of the time in bunkbeds. And one of these private rooms had bedbugs! They're not free of them either!
Short answer - no. They do, as you rightly suggest, inhabit the fabric of the building rather than just the bedding, but they can hang out in the structure of the bunk bed or in the ceiling, especially if there is a false ceiling or around window frames. Pulling the bunk away from the wall might help though, but it won't be 100% effective. They can quite easily climb to the top bunk if they want.I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
Us too. Surface spray on the floors and walls is quite effective, as is asking arrivals to leave their backpacks in a black plastic bag in the sun, but mainly it is just vigilance - the enemy is relentless.Nope. I battled the little creeps as a hospitalera. Pictures of what to look for bedbugs
Bed bugsI stayed in only 3 private rooms during mu camino, rest of the time in bunkbeds. And one of these private rooms had bedbugs! They're not free of them either!
I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
You will need to have a place outside away from other people and animals where you can spray it.Does anybody know if it is possible to buy Permethrin (to spray onto backpack and sleeping bag) in Spain on the Camino, as it is not available to buy in Ireland?
Thanks.
People often say it is not available on Canada, too, but it IS, at least in low concentrations. It might be the same in Ireland. Read the labels on the pest control products in your local hardware store. It is not claimed to be effective for bedbugs in particular, probably because there isn't enough research to make that advertising claim.it is not available to buy in Ireland
Maybe (after placing all gear in large bag o/night), the solution is to place overnight sleep wear in a small 'inner' p/bag inside Pack & see how the body reacts by the end of the day to the overnight stay?Not sure having been savaged by bedbugs recently on the Norte makes me an expert, but for what it's worth a comment about people wrapping their stuff separately.
I really don't think you can take the risk. If anything has come into contact with them the only safe tactic is to treat everything. As is usual it was 24 hours plus after being bitten that my body reacted and I realised what had happened, by which time everything, wrapped or not , had sat together in my rucksack
I agree. But sometimes it is necessary to prioritize, and it might be difficult to treat everything at once. I seem to react within 12 hours of being bitten, so usually I will start itching before I reach my destination the next day. In that situation, I have some confidence in my isolation technique, but you are right - it is not 100%.If anything has come into contact with them the only safe tactic is to treat everything.
Greg
2 kilos isn’t light, it’s naked. Would you post your packing list? Perhaps elsewhere so as to not divert this thread
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