Chigger Bites What are Chigger Bugs? (6 Ways To Get Rid Of Them!)

What are Chigger Bugs? (6 Ways To Get Rid Of Them!)

The red tiny mites called chigger bugs are well known for their bites. The chigger bites are very irritating and cause holes within the skin, further causing marks. These bugs are mainly found within mulch, tall grass, shrubs, and other outdoor areas. Initially, chigger mites are called mainly chiggers but during the larvae stage, they are called Trombiculidae mites.

Chiggers instantly jump into the clothes and find the open-skin areas to attack. They feed for near about 4 days and cause extreme itching and burns to the skin. Chiggers bite on arms, ankles, wrists, etc. Besides, these mites can be kept away with insecticide sprays.

What Are Chigger Bugs?

Chigger Bugs are a real nuisance, as their “bites” cause inflamed pimple-like marks on your skin that itch intensely. If Chiggers have ever bitten you, you never want to be bitten again!

Again, Chigger Bugs are more commonly called just Chiggers. During the larval stage, Trombiculidae mites need to feed to grow into adults. During this phase, they are called Chiggers, and they will hide in tall grass, shrubs, mulch, and other outdoor areas.

Photo by: Hansell F. Cross, Georgia State University, Bugwood.org

If you are wondering where chiggers live, then here is the answer. Chiggers are commonly found in grassy and woodland areas and do not prefer direct sunlight. They are tiny, about 1/150th of an inch, and very difficult to see with the naked eye. If you see them, it’s often because multiples are moving around quickly on your skin or clothing.

Chiggers wait in tall grass or on shrubs for a host to come by, then jump on the host to begin feeding. The feeding process is what causes the “bites” and the intense itching associated with the bites.

Chiggers have four different stages as they progress to become adults. The larval stage is the only stage where they seek out people and animals as a food source.

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Where Do Chigger Bug Bites?

For humans, this means Chigger Bugs generally jump onto your clothing, then immediately begin searching for the first open area of skin they can find.

Once there, they will rip open the skin, insert a tube-like appendage, and fill the soft area of the skin with an enzyme that dissolves it, and the Chigger will begin drinking.

To be more clear, Chiggers feed on your skin.

Chiggers will feed for approximately 2-3 days, if allowed, then drop off.  Within 24 hours, the inflammation and itching begin.  The specific time varies, depending on how severe the person’s reaction is.

Bites are often in groups and can literally be counted in the hundreds in a severe attack.   Bites are often located at transition areas where clothing stops and skin begins (this is evident in the photo above, where most chigger bites are above the waistline).

Chigger bites commonly occur on:

  • Ankles
  • Wrists
  • Arms
  • Legs
  • Abdomen
  • Neck
  • and Groin (causing some of the most intense and uncomfortable itchings)

How to Get Rid of Chigger Bugs?

Commercially available insecticide sprays are a very effective way to kill and get rid of Chiggers in your yard.  Specifically, the following products are very effective:

The most effective way to kill chiggers in your yard, and to keep them out, is to engage a Professional Exterminator.

Professionals will survey your yard and provide and implement an ongoing treatment plan. When contacting a professional exterminator, be sure they have current and prior experience treating Chiggers.

How to Prevent Chigger Bug Bites?

Most people that have been bitten by Chiggers actively seek out how to keep from being bitten by Chiggers again, and for a good reason. Chiggers’ bites hurt!

The most obvious answer for how to prevent chigger bug bites is to avoid areas that have Chiggers.  The reality of that, though, is that it’s tough to do.

To do this, you would really need not go outside.  No fun, right?

Avoiding Chiggers is difficult for the following reasons:

  • Chiggers are difficult to see
  • They don’t always hang out in the same places, especially year to year.

If you think you’ll be venturing into an area that may have chiggers, we recommend doing the following:

  • Cover your bare skin in an effective chigger repellent such as highway.
  • Wear boots, long pants (tuck them in your boots), and a long shirt tucked in. Wearing Gaiters really helps.
  • Spray clothing repellent onto your clothing. Sawyer makes excellent clothing chigger repellent.

When you return home, do the following immediately:

  • Quickly remove ALL of your clothing, including undergarments, in the washroom, place your clothing in the wash with soap, and turn it on. The soap and water will kill the Chiggers on your clothing.
  • Take a hot shower and scrub and wash vigorously with soap. Be sure to wash your entire body, as chiggers can hide.
  • After showering, apply a Chigger bite treatment product, like Chiggerx Plus or ChiggAway, to minimize the reaction to any bites you may have received.

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