Comments on: Bed bugs on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

By: Bed bug “luau” on the Camino to Santiago

Bed bug “luau” on the Camino to Santiago — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:02:42 +0000

[...] The bed bugs are still biting Pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We last posted about bed bugs on the popular Spanish pilgrimage route exactly a year ago. [...]

By: Terry Sweetland

Terry Sweetland — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:04:26 +0000

If the whole camino is fumigated in the winter don’t forget the Pilgrims as well, backpacks sleeping bags etc. When we get back from the camino we plan to strip before we get into the house and put everything in plastic bags, so we don’t let this pest enter the house. We will have clothes ready and waiting for us in the garage. I plan to try to freeze the items when we get back.

By: Steve Cole

Steve Cole — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:21:46 +0000

Hi I have just come back from my 2nd tip on the Camino.

On my 5th day We stop over night in Villafranca and stayed in the Ultreya Refugio the one next to the church I awoke to find I was covered and still are covered in over 80+ bits some quite large aand sore I noticed this hostel had yellow nylon sheets on its beds which is strange as most hostels heve plasic/rubber washable ones has anyone else had a the same problem with this hostel if so when and what did you do with your bits my seems to be lingering longer even with cream and tablets

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:40 +0000

Thanks, CJ. Perhaps some entomologists will see this suggestion and comment on it.

By: Camino Junkie

Camino Junkie — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:08:25 +0000

Hi there,
Bayticol is a tick repellent (not a bed bug repellent) but, as this is also a blood sucking insect, could serve the same purpose as Sawyers as it has the same main ingredient as Sawyers (Flumethrin (pyrethroid)
Bayticol® Aerosol
Reg.No. L5203 Act No. 36 of 1947
• Fabric spray
• Kills ticks on treated clothing
• Prevents tick bites (and tick-borne diseases)
• Treated clothing withstands 2-3 washes (cold water)
• Re-apply every 3 weeks
• Ozone friendly

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:04:21 +0000

Hi Camino Junkie,

Thanks for your comment! I like your blog.

It’s my experience that lavender oil will not keep hungry bed bugs from biting.

Insect repellent sprays (even the strongest ones with DEET) will only last a few hours, we’re told, so are not much help at night, when bed bugs prefer to bite in the dark hours before dawn. (And the strongest repellents are not safe to sleep in anyway.)

Diatomaceous earth: I guess the question is, where are backpackers going to put it? Unless you travel with a building, it isn’t much use.

I have not heard of Bayticol Clothing Spray or Deep Freeze spray. What are these products?

By: Camino Junkie

Camino Junkie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:44:11 +0000

Other suggestions are:
Lavender oils repel bugs
Sawyer Insect sprays (see website Sawyerproducts.com)
Diatomaceous earth.
Bayticol clothing srpay.
Deep freeze spray.