In this article, we have covered what do chiggers look like? They are 1/150th of an inch in size and bright red, separating them from other parasites. They hide in berry bushes, almost invisible to the naked eye. At this stage, they feed on human blood.
- Fleas are 2.5mm in size, red or brown, and are excellent jumpers.
- Ticks are dangerous tiny parasites. They are flat-shaped and are reddish-brown or greyish-white. They can pass on Lyme disease.
- Bugs are 4-5mm and reddish-brown. Among these, Chiggers’ bite can be excruciating.
What Do Chiggers Look Like?
You’ve seen plenty of insects globally, and they all look different. It can be challenging to track which insects are biting you and which are not. Chiggers are found all over the world and love to feed on humans.
If you’re here, you’ve likely heard of chiggers before but aren’t sure what they are and what they look like. I’m here to help you figure that out.
How Can You Differentiate Chiggers From Other Parasites?
Chiggers are easy to identify. Because they are easily found, you could find plenty of them in the wilderness once you feel comfortable identifying them.
Chiggers are nearly invisible to the human eye. They are roughly 1/150th of an inch in size. Though you can see them without a magnifying glass, you should probably use one if you want to see what they look like. Chiggers are tiny and red, making them vibrant against whatever they’re walking on.
Chiggers are just the juvenile form of mites. Adult mites have eight legs, whereas the juvenile form of mites (Chiggers) only has six legs.
The vital thing to know is that chiggers usually hide in berry bushes, thick grass, or brush. They are small and red and nearly impossible to see. Try to stay on the trails if you don’t want to get bit while hiking. Suppose you want to play it safe and try using a Chigger Repellant.
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Also known as berry bugs, chiggers are the small larva form of the adult arachnid known as mites. Though the adults don’t drink blood, the larva does. They are hungry for blood and eager to bite anyone willing to wander too close to the brush they’re hiding in.
Chiggers are members of the class Arachnida. Their scientific name is Trombiculidae, but they are more commonly known as chiggers and berry bugs.
They’re usually found hiding in berry bushes, thick brush, and grass. They aren’t powerful, so they prefer to bite you on weaker parts of your skin, such as any folds or wrinkles.
Chiggers tend to get bored when feeding, so they frequently change spots. Chigger bites are generally clustered together in a concentrated area.
You won’t be able to feel the bite at first because chiggers have a numbing agent in their saliva, very similar to what fleas, mosquitoes, and bed bugs have.
The hardening of the host skin provides a feeding tube called a Stylostome. The Stylostome acts like a straw and allows chiggers to suck their host blood without drawing too much attention until irritation begins.
Other Parasites And What They Look Like
There are a lot of parasites out there, and it’s easy to confuse them. I want to list some of the more common pests to help you better understand what each parasite looks like.
What Are Fleas?
What makes fleas unique from other parasites on this list are their six powerful legs giving them the ability to jump up to 7 inches vertically and 13 inches horizontally.
Fleas usually bite you around your ankles and feet because they can only propel themselves so high and so far. They also enjoy hiding in warm, moist areas like your socks.
What are Ticks?
This is a potentially dangerous form of the parasite. Ticks are flat and tend to be greyish-white in color, reddish-brown, or yellow. They have eight legs, and the more they feed, the bigger they get. When at their most significant, they become a milky white color.
Ticks aren’t able to fly, jump, or drop. They climb up your body from the ground and bite into you so they can feed you. Female ticks cause most tick bites because males usually die after mating. Ticks feed during all stages of their life, but adult ticks require blood meals to live.
Ticks can transmit harmful diseases such as Lyme disease. This is why careful tick extraction is crucial. When ticks bite, they bury their heads into their host body and feed until they are extracted or become full.
What Are Bed Bugs?
A very infestation is bed bugs, and they can cause a real mess if they get into your home. Bed bugs measure from 4mm to 5mm and are red-brown. From a distance, they look similar to ticks.
Unlike ticks, bedbugs infest your home, and when they bite, they don’t bury their heads into a host body and continue to feed. Instead, they bite multiple times in a straight line.
Millions of years ago, bed bugs infested the nest of birds and other animals but had since evolved. They now live in the homes of humans. They can sometimes live in large groups and feed one host while they sleep.
Closing Thoughts
Chiggers are mites that belong to the Trombiculidae family. However, they infect a person in a far more painful way. This is why you need to differentiate them from other mites in the clan. And we hope that this article has given you clarity.
You can also check:-
- Are Chiggers Contagious?
- Check Chigger Relief Creams
- Chigger Relief Sprays
- How to Get Rid of Chiggers?
