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I haven't seen ticks at all and just a few mosquitoes along the way; however, I have gotten spider bites on two separate occasions while sleeping. I'm thankful these were non-poisonous but I did break out in hives both times. I had great experiences at hospital in Burgos first time and now Ponferrada two days ago. Doctor here says I should avoid albergues since I get this allergic reaction. He says the old buildings are hard to keep insect free. Anyone experienced anything like this??
I haven't seen ticks at all and just a few mosquitoes along the way; however, I have gotten spider bites on two separate occasions while sleeping. I'm thankful these were non-poisonous but I did break out in hives both times. I had great experiences at hospital in Burgos first time and now Ponferrada two days ago. Doctor here says I should avoid albergues since I get this allergic reaction. He says the old buildings are hard to keep insect free. Anyone experienced anything like this??
Episode #24 of the Camino Podcast had an interesting interview with a bedbug expert, starting about halfway through the podcast. The fellow was very matter of fact and reassuring, and had some good suggestions (but nothing we haven't seen here on the forum). It was interesting that he said the straight line pattern doesn't indicate so much as the multiple bites. Apparently the straight line just happens because your skin/flesh is pressed against the mattress and the bugs line up on the mattress to feed!Were the bites in a straight line?
No bites in straight line. First time I had 3 bites--one on back, one on left calf, one on right thigh. All were crescent shaped. Then I broke out in hives within 6 hours. I didn't know I'd been bitten until hives showed up and I started looking around my body. I'd just awakened, got dressed and started walking. Second time was just one bite on back of leg, hives developed while I walked next day. Doctors said no bedbug bites. One man is taking antibiotics for brown recluse. I'm just lucky it was non poisonous!This sounds like it could be bedbugs to me.
Were the bites in a straight line?
No bites in straight line. First time I had 3 bites--one on back, one on left calf, one on right thigh. All were crescent shaped. Then I broke out in hives within 6 hours. I didn't know I'd been bitten until hives showed up and I started looking around my body. I'd just awakened, got dressed and started walking. Second time was just one bite on back of leg, hives developed while I walked next day. Doctors said no bedbug bites. One man is taking antibiotics for brown recluse. I'm just lucky it was non poisonous!
Not sure that I'd heard about putting these bed bug traps on bed legs - would seem a good idea for albergues
http://www.insect-interceptor.com/
Actually I'd say an emphatic yes as I've been bitten many times on Camino Frances- take precautions eg sarong or towel sprayed with anti mosquito stuff hang it from under top bunk to create mosquito wall for bottom bunk or tie ends to headboard with bootlaces or elastic bands ....wear mosquito cream around ankles and wrists in evenings or you'll be bitten to bits in some places especially if Albergue is near a river stream or pond. I'm currently taking HUGE anti biotics for an infected mosquito bite...On the Camino Frances? No ;-) Mosquitos love a humid climate and most of the CF is arid, ticks love long grass, shrubs, bushes etc - as long as you stay out of them - no worries. Buen Camino, SY
No it was a mosquito .... I caught it! Also the Dr. assessed it ace said mosquitoMosquito? Looks very like a bedbug bite.....
I've had no more bites I saw the mosquito it was dead and DRs have an ethical code ... no embarrassment here or there@travelgirl409 I suspect the doctor was trying to avoid embarrassing you. Or trying to protect the reputation of the albergues. That he suggested you not sleep in one again tells its own story.
I certainly do not. In 3 October-November trips on the Camino Frances, I have never noticed either mosquitos or ticks. They should be the very least of your worries!Do I have to worry about ticks and/or mosquitoes in October to November?
They are here now - I'm in the Bar at the Parador and we can see them flying around and buzzing around our feet ..... it's a here and now experience but I do get very easily bitten and I react quite badly too.I certainly do not. In 3 October-November trips on the Camino Frances, I have never noticed either mosquitos or ticks. They should be the very least of your worries!
I believe you. The mosquito population is quite dependent on local conditions, and can vary quite a bit from year to year.They are here now -
and this is for the all those on here that just love to discuss them......zero bedbugs encountered!
Not sure that I'd heard about putting these bed bug traps on bed legs - would seem a good idea for albergues
http://www.insect-interceptor.com/
Also the hospitaleros can monitor for bedbugs since they are stuck in the trap. A check each morning would indicate if additional inspection and treatment are needed.I read about those too, a few years back. Seems like it could be a simple solution to at least keep them from walking from bed to bed. Of course, many times the pilgrims transport them in/on their sleeping bags.
Yeah, I can relate with that. On my recent CF this past August-September I encountered a couple of stretches where I was harassed by small flies, or gnats. Lots of them. They weren't biting me, but were flying in my face, on my ears, etc. Quite annoying and makes for a very unpleasant walking experience. Only happened a couple of times, but was enough that I had wished I had brought a bug net that fits over my head, utilizing my hat for space between the net and my face. We used to wear similar on early season fishing and waterfowl hunts in the marshes. They work pretty good. The one in the photo rolls up small and only weighs an ounce. If you use it just once on the Camino for a few hours, it's well worth bringing.I am on the meseta right now (nearing Sahagun) and everyone is being driven crazy with flies! I suspect that the large number of pesky flies is due to the fact that there is only stubble on the fields and the soil is more exposed, and maybe fertilizer and manure has been applied. They are everywhere and bite my hands and neck--any exposed skin. I love the meseta, but this time the flies have made it unpleasant (to say the least!). Beautiful sunrises and sunsets make up for the annoyance of the flies.
You're a very lucky man, Mark.Four CF's completed between the months of June through September.
Zero mosquitoes encountered.
Zero ticks encountered.
and this is for the all those on here that just love to discuss them......zero bedbugs encountered!
To all those out there about to do their first CF, be more concerned about footwear choice and pack weight than the slight possibility of making contact with the insect world whilst on the Camino.
cheers
Oh, so that was you, naughty naughty, that put those nasty hitchhikers out thereSaw exactley one bed bug and flipped it out the window.
You're still alive, Jerry as I can see. GoodI put several oak roble leaves behind my ears. Keep flies away from face. Works for me
you got that right....You're a very lucky man, Mark.
I hope there were more beers around you than mosquitos
In fact I should say "I know" instead of "I Hope"you got that right....
but yes, I think of the 120+ days I have spent on the CF I have been very lucky.
besides the zero bug encounters, I only had four or five rainy days total
I never had to move on to the next village due to no room at albergues. Always found a bed.
How interesting that you should associate bites with hives, but I don't think that it is post hoc propter hoc. I've been a hives sufferer for many years, but the attacks are seemingly quite random and very intermittent, maybe once or twice a year. I've also travelled the globe and been bitten by a large range of creepy crawlies in temperate and tropical climes. I have never worked out what causes the attacks of hives, but I've never been able to associate an attack of hives with a bite. Rather I think my attacks have a vegetable or pollen cause - of course, hives may have more than one cause, maybe some medic out there knows? What I do know is how debilitating and even dangerous (never mind the itching!) that hives can be, so you have my sympathy. Now to the practical: I carry two ready-use Piriton tablets, in my wallet, in my money belt and at the very top of my pack (ok - that's six, but I'm cautious bloke) and as soon as I begin to suffer I take two pills with plenty of water and sit to rest for 15-20 minutes - and that seems to do the trick.I haven't seen ticks at all and just a few mosquitoes along the way; however, I have gotten spider bites on two separate occasions while sleeping. I'm thankful these were non-poisonous but I did break out in hives both times. I had great experiences at hospital in Burgos first time and now Ponferrada two days ago. Doctor here says I should avoid albergues since I get this allergic reaction. He says the old buildings are hard to keep insect free. Anyone experienced anything like this??