What Are Chiggers?
Chiggers are known by are by a variety of names. Red bug, Harvest Mite are a couple, but chiggers is the best known. Chiggers are not true insects but belong to the spider family. Chiggers are very much like ticks. Chiggers pack some pretty long scientific names even scientists cannot pronounce so I will not go into that here.
Chiggers are not blood suckers and they do not bore into the skin as some suppose. Chiggers come in about three sizes. Adults, nymph, larval and eggs. It is not the adult chiggers that cause the problem with bites, thusly the dreaded chigger itch.
It is the larval state of chiggers that a body needs to watch out for.
Chiggers are not blood suckers and they do not bore into the skin as some suppose. Chiggers come in about three sizes. Adults, nymph, larval and eggs. It is not the adult chiggers that cause the problem with bites, thusly the dreaded chigger itch.
It is the larval state of chiggers that a body needs to watch out for.
What Do Chiggers Look Like?
Adult chiggers have eight legs. The larval only has six. Adults can be red or amber or gray in color. Their legs are hairy little things. They have pincers for biting the skin within which they inject their spit. Chiggers are very ugly little creatures. You probably will never see one without the aid of a microscope.
[Link to top of the Introduction Module.]
[Link to top of the Introduction Module.]
How Large Are Chiggers?
Adult chiggers are a lot bigger than the larval coming in at about 1/20th of an inch. Whereas the larva chigger is about 1/120th of an inch.
In short, that means it takes120 chigger larva lined up end to end to equal one inch. Now that is a pretty small measuring stick. If you have a really good magnifying glass or a microscope you might be able to see one if you can find it to look at.
[Link to top of the Introduction Module.]
In short, that means it takes120 chigger larva lined up end to end to equal one inch. Now that is a pretty small measuring stick. If you have a really good magnifying glass or a microscope you might be able to see one if you can find it to look at.
[Link to top of the Introduction Module.]
Where Do Chiggers Live?
If you really want to find chiggers you may look for them in the more densely wooded areas where brush and bushes abound. Chiggers love moist, warm areas associated with rotting wood and bark. They love to hang out on the tips of leaves and long grass.They are most prolific in early summer when the ground temperature get above 70 degrees. And vegetation such as when grass, weeds are heaviest.
In their larval stage they attach to various animals, including humans, and feed on skin, resulting in wicked, mean and terrible itching that can last up to 2 weeks.
Link to top of the Introduction Module.
Review even more chigger treatment information.
Visit Chigger-Treatment.com and discover how to cure that dreadful chigger itch fast.
Some not so good chigger bite treatments
Best known chigger treatments for home and garden
Best approach for hikers & campers to avoid chigger bites