- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2015 CF, 2016 CP, 2018 Le Puy, 2019 CF,
2022 Prim
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Hello, leaving from SJpdP May 9 to Santiago.
Another pilgrim recommended buying 2 yards of super light material and treat it with permethrin to put on the mattress to “scare-away” bedbugs. I am going to use a silk sleep sac + Costco down throw. Don’t know why Iam paranoid as this will be my 3rd Camino, never gotten bed bugs, but don’t want ‘em either. Adding this 3rd layer to my bed adds another 5 oz to my pack and I am one of those people who is trying to keep my pack weight down. Has anyone else done this ? Appreciate all your opinions!
In reality, the incidence of bed bugs is low. However, when I saw signs of BB I told the Hospitalero and any other pilgrims in the room and found a different PLACE to stay!The best defense is to inspect your surroundings for bedbug signs and if found, quietly tell the Hospitalero, and seek a different bed.
Yes, I have one and have used it on three caminos. Apparently permeated with Permethrin or something similar. After my first walk, I sprayed it again before leaving just in case the "stuff" had worn off. Never been bitten, but maybe just luck. Anyway, it is very light weight if you are concerned about that.Has anyone seen or used one of these? Spotted it in a shop...https://www.lifesystems.co.uk/products/mosquito-nets/bed-bug-sheet-single
ThanksYes, I have one and have used it on three caminos. Apparently permeated with Permethrin or something similar. After my first walk, I sprayed it again before leaving just in case the "stuff" had worn off. Never been bitten, but maybe just luck. Anyway, it is very light weight if you are concerned about that.
I found bed bug traps at Lowes in Canada. I'm taking them along to put under the bed. Supposedly the bugs leave the bed and go to the trap! It sounds safer than exposing yourself to nasty pesticides.Hello, leaving from SJpdP May 9 to Santiago.
Another pilgrim recommended buying 2 yards of super light material and treat it with permethrin to put on the mattress to “scare-away” bedbugs. I am going to use a silk sleep sac + Costco down throw. Don’t know why Iam paranoid as this will be my 3rd Camino, never gotten bed bugs, but don’t want ‘em either. Adding this 3rd layer to my bed adds another 5 oz to my pack and I am one of those people who is trying to keep my pack weight down. Has anyone else done this ? Appreciate all your opinions!
Well, shut my mouth. This is news to me. Thank you.However, your strategy won't work. Permethrin is NOT a repellent to bedbugs. There are some insects for which Permethrin acts both as an insecticide AND a repellent, but bedbugs are not among that group.
Traps that go under the bed legs might be a reasonable solution for bed bugs that are not already in the bed frame or seams of the mattress, ie those that are going to have to climb the bed legs to get to you. But remember that bed bugs are attracted by a combination of carbon dioxide and warmth, and if you are in the bed you will be the largest and closest emitter of both. They are unlikely to leave your bed to go elsewhere for a meal! So it will be important to check that there is no evidence of bed bugs on your mattress and bed frame as well as using the traps.I found bed bug traps at Lowes in Canada. I'm taking them along to put under the bed. Supposedly the bugs leave the bed and go to the trap! It sounds safer than exposing yourself to nasty pesticides.
The anecdotal evidence is that they are not, but I doubt any individual one of us really knows. My experience in Apr, May and Jun was that I was never affected by bed bug bites, but that might have been just luck.Are bedbugs common at the beginning of the busy season?
The beg bugs will smell nice when they bite you, and you will have annoyed everyone with an unnecessary scent. There is no evidence that essential oils are effective insecticides. If you want to use it as a repellent, spray it on yourself, not on things that other people will have to use. We might not appreciate having to come into contact with chemicals you have spraying into the environment.Perhaps spraying the mattress and surrounding area with citronella might help?
Perhaps spraying the mattress and surrounding area with citronella might help?
Just found this site for great info...
Bed Bugs: Get Them Out and Keep Them Out | US EPA
Prevent, identify, and treat bed bug infestations using EPA’s step-by-step guides, based on IPM principles. Find pesticides approved for bed bug control, check out the information clearinghouse, and dispel bed bug myths.www.epa.gov
Nope. What works with mosquitoes does not necessarily work for other insects. Bedbugs are one of those which look at citronella as lemon flavoring for their blood meal
Traps that go under the bed legs might be a reasonable solution for bed bugs that are not already in the bed frame or seams of the mattress, ie those that are going to have to climb the bed legs to get to you. But remember that bed bugs are attracted by a combination of carbon dioxide and warmth, and if you are in the bed you will be the largest and closest emitter of both. They are unlikely to leave your bed to go elsewhere for a meal! So it will be important to check that there is no evidence of bed bugs on your mattress and bed frame as well as using the traps.
There are some other types of traps, but I don't know how effective they are.
A body bag? I think I will pass on that!Sleeping in an airtight, human-sized zip loc bag works, too.
Then I just won't exhale!
Sleeping in an airtight, human-sized zip loc bag works, too.
So did you use just a sheet and then sleep sak ontop of your own sheet?Did you find it effective? WOndering how to prevent bites on arms/face that stick out of sleep sak. I guess a bottom layer sheet would help?Hello, leaving from SJpdP May 9 to Santiago.
Another pilgrim recommended buying 2 yards of super light material and treat it with permethrin to put on the mattress to “scare-away” bedbugs. I am going to use a silk sleep sac + Costco down throw. Don’t know why Iam paranoid as this will be my 3rd Camino, never gotten bed bugs, but don’t want ‘em either. Adding this 3rd layer to my bed adds another 5 oz to my pack and I am one of those people who is trying to keep my pack weight down. Has anyone else done this ? Appreciate all your opinions!
Did you read the first response in this thread? Bedbugs are not deterred by permethrin, but it will kill them over time (an hour or so of contact with permethrin treated fabric). That means that they can crawl over the treated fabric, bite you, then crawl back to their dark corner.So did you use just a sheet and then sleep sak ontop of your own sheet?Did you find it effective? WOndering how to prevent bites on arms/face that stick out of sleep sak. I guess a bottom layer sheet would help?
So did you use just a sheet and then sleep sak ontop of your own sheet?Did you find it effective? WOndering how to prevent bites on arms/face that stick out of sleep sak. I guess a bottom layer sheet would help?
By all means, use all of the prevention measures you can. But the bugs will not be waiting around on top of the mattress! They will be hiding in crevasses, seams, cracks in the walls, until dark when you are lying on the mattress exhaling CO2. Cover your body as much as you can (since they can't bite through fabric!) and put Deet on exposed skin.Can I suggest the pyrethrum route and place your treated sheet on your bed/bunk as soon as you get in because it takes around an hour or more for the bugs to die.
Unfortunately, the bedbugs wait until you are sleeping before they strike. The don't get on your treated bedding and wait around for you to go to bed. They crawl in, bite and get out. However, if they don't get out and your bedding is treated with permethrin they should die.Can I suggest the pyrethrum route and place your treated sheet on your bed/bunk as soon as you get in because it takes around an hour or more for the bugs to die.
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