They are 5.5 millimetres long, crawl into bed in droves at night, bite painlessly and suck blood. When fully engorged, they can grow to up to 9 millimetres in length and are easily visible to the naked eye. What you do notice, however, are their itchy bites over the next few days. It’s similar to a mosquito bite. So, unpleasant but harmless – provided you don’t develop an allergy. The problem, however, is that once bedbugs have taken up residence in a room with nooks and crannies, they’re very difficult to get rid of. And as these parasites thrive not only in beds but also in worn clothing, bags and rucksacks, they are often carried away unnoticed by hut guests and thus transported from one house to the next.
Carrying guests’ panniers from house to house
That is why the German Alpine Club is now taking steps to curb the growing bedbug infestation. As a guest at a mountain hut, you currently have to expect:
- Rucksacks and bags are not allowed in the dormitory, or may only be brought in a bag (3 euros)
- Bedding is heated in the microwave (bedbugs and their eggs are killed at 46 degrees)
- Trained sniffer dogs are searching the rooms (Berchtesgaden)
- Some huts may be closed (pest control in progress)
Visually, the bites on the skin are almost indistinguishable from those of other insects. One small clue might be if several bites can be seen in a row. People with sensitive skin may develop widespread skin inflammation as a result of intense scratching, or allergic reactions following multiple bites.
Incidentally, bedbugs no longer thrive at altitudes of 2,000 metres or above. So huts in the high Alps are unlikely to have this problem. However, if you’ve picked up bedbugs, you may well be carrying the parasites home with you in your clothes or rucksack. It’s therefore best not to take your rucksack and panniers straight into the house after a hut trip. It’s best to put all your clothes straight into the washing machine and wash them at 60 degrees if possible (the bugs die at 40 degrees, but the eggs don’t). If you have a microwave at home, you’ll be on the safe side at 55 degrees or above.
A freezer compartment or chest freezer is also a good idea, particularly for panniers. However, bedbugs are quite resistant to the cold. In other words, this measure only takes effect after a few hours. Starving them out doesn’t really work, as bedbugs can easily survive for up to 40 days without food. You won’t see them in bed during the day, as they retreat to their hiding places after feeding. What you can spot with the naked eye, however, are the black droppings they leave behind
According to the German Alpine Club, up to 20 of its 320 huts are affected each year, and the trend is rising. The problem with bedbugs is that, unlike other insects, they bite not only in summer and autumn, but also in winter and spring.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
