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All huts have been closed due to bed bugs.
Workmates mum was supposed to be doing 1 of the big walks there next week but DoC informed them that all huts have been closed and they will need to use tents if they want to continue with their tramp.
Looking at past history, bed bugs have been quite a problem that they are having trouble eradicating.
Is that the rakiura track or all the huts...? Yeah it's been an issue the last year or two. Accommodation places on the island are having to make people keep packs and gear outside to try keep their rooms bug free, bloody expensive to decontaminate on the island
Nightmare to get rid of even in a house.
Endless bombs and spraying and f**kers still survive for years inside furniture and framing of houses.
@cambo any idea when this was? Hasn't happened recently from what I have heard... Maybe last summer?
Pretty sure they had to rip the entire lining out of at least 1 hut and redo the whole thing
They were supposed to be heading there this week but DoC contacted them last week to say the huts were closed and they'd need to stay in tents if they wanted to goQuote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
Interesting... I just talked with a doc staff member on the island and they knew nothing about it (and they are in a department that would know)Quote:
Originally Posted by cambo
Weird.Quote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
She was looking forward to the trip with the group she was going with. All canceled their trip over this.
@cambo & @223nut ; After the Lock Downs we are in contact with DOC for info on getting back into our usual couple of times yearly self boat trips into Stewart Island & FL hunts & Dives . DOC is supposed to be doing daily checks & cleaning on what were the problem re- infestation huts which from memory there was 3 bad ones where they were giving people option to cancel & get preference rebook or camp .
There have been no Bed Bug reports as at mid Feb at North Arm , Port William Hut,either of the Rakiura Great Walk Huts
They are also having trouble with Bed Bug re- infestation in FL on the Kepler & are currently treating all huts on the Kepler Track every 4- 6 weeks , also on going problems at Luxmore , Iris Burn and Moturau Huts in FL all these are supposed to be getting daily cleaning & inspection by DOC .
Of note today they notified they have had their first confirmed Chyna Flu case staying in the Fiordland huts/walk , infected were on Kepler track from 25–28 February, staying at Luxmore, Iris Burn and Moturau huts on the 25, 26 and 27 February respectively. Mate was told they will be having a crack down on proof of vaccination at all DOC sites ,including spot checks ,so l would say those in the Wap Ballot will be stuffed without proof.
Off the record mate was told they are looking at option of allowing multiple camps on SI like the Wap Ballot & close huts for a couple of months while they give HD treatment to try to eradicate ,as now they are more or less saying you have a good chance of Bed Bugs in the huts .Which of course means it is a self licking ice cream & bad news for SI residents as they are of course spreading through all facilities used by visitors.
@223nut sorry have not had time to get back to you ,only just got back from hunting trip & flat out .l will try to PM you tonight with the info ,while l am waiting on a call from a mate in US :thumbsup:
Can someone describe the mattresses at the huts, any Doc hut I have stayed in had vinyl covered mattresses. A quick knapsack spray round in the hut with malathion and a plastic bag over a cloth covered mattress would sort it
Shades of the seventeenth century. Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.
@Moa Hunter they will be the standard ones you describe that are fire resistant. From 2nd hand accounts the bugs were at a level of dead bodies piling up in the corners of bunk frames and under mattresses etc. Needed a deep clean
Brother in law is currently on his way there now, hope hes got a tent....told me he was staying in a tent
@Moa Hunter Yep as @223nut said & also the problem had been let get to a point where they were in behind the cladding ,due to all the gaps & cracks & were quite happy there ,so a simple spray or Bomb as they initially did was not reaching the real problem areas ,so a couple of weeks later they were back better than ever .They had to pull the cladding off some of the huts to reach them & it was like a horror movie & the poor buggers doing it had real & imaginary itches for weeks after.Quote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
I read the message they sent my mate today & they are basically saying they are a fact of life in the huts now ,due to the varied visitors staying in them ,so has there been a big out break of Bed Bugs in Kiwi towns & cities now, from over the Lock Downs ??
Well at least the unvaxed cant get blamed for that one as they are excluded from Doc hutsQuote:
Originally Posted by bunji
It will be interesting to see how much it all costs, as the gutting of the huts would be a fortune, plus on going treatment for around a year now & then the staff are supposed to be doing daily thorough cleans & inspections .Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
Would not be surprised if costs are not recouped down the track from all users & the poor old locals must be feeling like sitting ducks . I do not really bother with listening to our pathetic local news services ,but have heard nothing of a plaque of Bed Bugs in the towns etc ,over Lock downs .
@7mmwsm he tells me they are staying in a private hut, thats all he really knew. Is your neighbour Hamish aka Noodles?
Insects are pretty easy to kill as they dont breath with lungs but through trachea, so spraying out the hut with thinners or petrol would have them gone quick and cheap, but dont light a smoke. Throwing a big cover over the hut and fumigating it would be best but is impractical so wrapping a hut with shrink film and fumigating would be how I would do it. Bet I could wrap a hut in under two hours and gass it up.
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate. Almost every hostel / backpackers has the problem at some stage. It due to the instants (nymphs) living in crevices and cracks. Only the adults feed on blood. Laundering of sheets etc does not control them. Insecticide resistance is also an issue.
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I still think that shrink wrapping the hut and fumigating it would be the way. Not suggesting full on methyl bromide but there are plenty of fumigants that will kill eggs immatures and adultsQuote:
Originally Posted by Dicko
The right fumigant could work. Eg Profume but not sure on registrations for that use?...
I discussed Stewart Island bed bugs with a mate this morning who has done at least ten trips. The bugs have been there for years, last trip he went on they threw all the mattresses outside for the duration of the stay and let off four borer bombs in the hut - once the smoke had cleared moved all their gear in and slept on their own air beds. Hell of a mess in the hut but no bugs
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re.../?tab-id=50561
North Arm & Port William huts only. ie Raliura Track only.
those raid cans for crawling insects work wonders in old wooden huts,dead beetles everywhere and ZERO flies or sandflies...any blowfly who comes in,turns and flys straight back out the door or dies.
stinks for hour of two but very very effective.cant see how it wouldnt zap bed bugs too....and just what are bed bugs anyway???some kind of super dirty womans fleas,nits perhaps???
[/QUOTE]....and just what are bed bugs anyway??????[/QUOTE]
Taking a wild guess here but I reckon they are probably bugs that get into your bed.
Taking a wild guess here but I reckon they are probably bugs that get into your bed.[/QUOTE]Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
That could also be crabs. "Apparently" those little buggers get everywhere.[/QUOTE]
yeah crabs=dirty womens fleas LOL...
Crabs are merely mechanised dandruff. A quick mow of the front lawn gives them no place to hide……………..or so I’ve heard. Ha ha ha ha
No it wouldnt because bees are insects. A mitacide is required that will kill varroa but leave the bees with minimal impact. Many things do work on Varroa but because the dose to kill all varroa is harmful to bees a lower than optimal dose is used and many varroa (those that have a greater mitacide tolerance) escape treatment to breed the next generation - leading to resistant strains of Varroa. The best option is to use all the treatments that represent different chemical families at the same time.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Interestingly and surprisingly 'Crabs' and Headlice have quite advanced governance and treaties in place between them. A Pax between them gives the territory of the head including the beard if present to headlice and the inner thighs buttocks, genital zone and chest hair up to the neck to the 'Crabs'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rushy
It takes a great deal of intelligence to reach such a pact. Who’d of thought the little buggers could have reached such an agreement?Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
Have been told in the past that hairs from different areas of our body have different diameters and they have evolved to have the right sized legs to crawl around in itQuote:
Originally Posted by Rushy
so from this day forth will we see??? @223nut will be on wharf to great each ferry and delouse all passengers before debarking..... the young female ones will be done twice for good measure,the older tree hugging variety and the males,can do their own...
I think he may have been talking about ANOTHER beehive infested with parasites;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
MD I'll make sure to mix some cayenne pepper (or something similar) into it for when any forum members arrive