Chiggers

Photo of adult chigger by Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org

Chiggers are the immature stage of certain mites belonging to the family Trombiculidae. More closely related to spiders than to insects, chiggers belong to the class Arachinida, along with scorpions and ticks. In Texas, the term “chigger” commonly is used to describe the parasitic larval stage of mites in the genus Eutrombicula. These common mites cause most of the itchy, summertime bites that occur after walking outdoors through grassy or brushy areas.

Several species of chiggers occur in Texas,but only two are troublesome. One, Eutrombicula alfreddugesi, inhabits disturbed grassy and weedy upland areas and may be encountered in overgrown briar patches and along the edges of wooded areas. The other, Eutrombicula splendens, prefers moist habitats such as swamps and bogs, rotten logs and stumps. Even within favorable habitats, distribution of chiggers often is spotty. Chiggers may be concentrated heavily in one spot while virtually absent nearby.

Chiggers of the genus Eutrombicula prefer birds, reptiles, rodents or other small mammals as hosts. Although chiggers readily bite people if given a chance, humans do not make good hosts. Chiggers often do not survive on humans more than 1 or 2 days, because of people’s adverse skin reactions and scratching.

Chiggers hitch rides on people who walk through infested vegetation. They grab onto shoes or clothing and typically explore a host for several hours before choosing a place to feed. Chigger bites are most common in areas where clothing is tight or where skin is thinnest. Bites are most common at sites around sock lines on the ankles where socks fit tightly, around the waist and near the groin. Bites also may occur in other areas, including behind the knee and under the armpit.

Contrary to common belief, chiggers do not burrow into a host’s skin or suck blood. They pierce the skin with their sharp mouthparts and inject a digestive enzyme, disintegrating skin cells for food. Itching usually begins within 3 to 6 hours after an initial bite, followed by develop-ment of reddish areas and sometimes clear pustules or bumps. As the skin becomes red and swollen, it may completely envelop the feeding chigger, making it appear that the chigger has burrowed into the host’s skin. Itching typically peaks at 24 to 48 hours after chigger bites occur, but redness and itching may persist for a week or more for some people.

Chigger Biology. Chiggers live outdoors in vegetation-shaded soil. They pass through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Adults spend the winter in the soil. During the early, warm days of spring, females deposit their eggs in leaf litter and damp soil. The tiny larvae that hatch have six legs, are yellowish to light-red, and measure 0.15 to 0.3 mm (1/100 inch) in diameter. Only the chigger larvae are parasitic. Once a larva finds a host, it typically feeds for 3 days before dropping off to digest its meal and molt into its next life stage.

Nymphs and adults have eight legs and are predators, feeding on small insects and insect eggs found in the soil. Adult Eutrombicula mites are about 1 mm long, with a velvety texture and brilliant red coloring. They sometimes are seen walking in leaf litter or along the edges of stones or concrete and often are referred to as “red bugs.”

Under favorable conditions, chiggers can complete their development in 2 to 12 months. Chiggers are active from late spring to fall in most parts of Texas, but they may remain active year-round in southern areas, where they can produce up to four generations per year.

Defending Yourself Against Chigger Bites. The best defense against chiggers is to avoid them. Wear protective clothing, such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and shoes or boots, when venturing into chigger habitats. Loose-fitting, tightly woven fabrics provide the best protection, because such fabrics minimize the movement of chiggers through clothing. To keep chiggers on the outside of your clothing, tuck pants legs inside boots, and button your cuffs and collar. Avoid sitting or lying directly on the ground. Remove your clothes as soon as possible after exposure to chigger habitats, and launder them before the next wearing.

Take a warm, soapy shower or bath within a few hours after exposure to chiggers to reduce the number and severity of bites. Scrub your skin vigorously with a washcloth to dislodge any mites that may have settled there recently. The sooner you take a shower, the more likely it is to provide relief from skin reactions to chigger bites (chigger dermatitis).

Commercially available insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) offer protection from chiggers and insects. Apply repellents according to label directions. DEET may be applied to exposed skin and around the edge of openings in clothing, such as cuffs and waistbands, and around boot tops. Avoid getting DEET repellents around or in your eyes. Skin-applied repellents’ effectiveness decreases after several hours, so reapply them as necessary. Sulfur powder applied to clothing also may provide some protection. Plant-oil-based repellents may not have been tested for effectiveness against chiggers; however, a repellent that specifically states it repels chiggers should provide some degree of protection.

Apply products containing permethrin (such as Permanone® Tick Repellent) to clothing for long-lasting chigger protection. Do not apply permethrin sprays directly to skin; allow them to dry on clothing before wearing it. Permethrin treatments are long-lasting and will remain effective through several washings. Combine permethrin-treated clothing and DEET applied to the skin if you will be in areas heavily infested with chiggers.

Chigger infestations are less common in maintained turfgrass and landscaped environments. But occasionally, especially in sites recently cleared for development, chiggers may infest vegetation around a home. Also, hosts such as wild mammals, birds or reptiles can help sustain chiggers in backyard settings. Keeping grass cut short and vegetation well-trimmed can raise soil temperatures and lower humidity enough to make lawns less hospitable to chiggers.

Treating Chigger Bites. Chigger dermatitis can be extremely irritating and uncomfortable. A hot shower or bath, with scrubbing as described on page 2, can provide some relief if done early in the itching phase. Once a pustule (bump) has formed, do not scratch it, to avoid opening the bite to possible infection.

Antihistamines such as oral Benadryl®, anti-itch creams (camphor and menthol, calamine or pramoxine), or hydrocortisone ointments give the best relief from the intense itching associated with chigger bites. It’s also a good idea to apply an antiseptic ointment to prevent infection, especially on bites that have been abraded by clothing or scratching.

Commercial chigger-bite medications vary in effectiveness but often rely on numbing agents or sealants to prevent air from contacting a bite. Analgesics (pain relievers) also can provide relief from itching discomfort. Chronic scratching only causes further irritation and increases the risk of secondary infection. Individuals with severe cases of chigger dermatitis or hypersensitivity to chigger bites should consult their physicians.