How to Avoid Biting Mites (Chiggers)

How to Avoid Biting Mites (Chiggers) Just the mention of chiggers is enough to make any outdoors-loving person tremble in fear. These tiny bugs can be difficult to see when theyre on you, but once youve suffered chigger bites, youll never forget them. Chigger bites are so itchy, they make grown men cry. So what are chiggers, and where do they live? Chiggers Are the Larvae of Mites Chiggers are nothing more than young mites, specifically the parasitic larvae of mites in the genus Trombicula. Mites belong to the class Arachnida, along with ticks and spiders. Like other arachnids, chigger mites go through four developmental stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Nymphs and adults have four pairs of legs, while the larvae have just three pairs. Unfortunately for us, three pairs of legs are all they need to catch us and make our lives miserable. The Chigger Life Cycle Its important to know that adult mites and nymphs dont bother people at all. They feed on small organisms (including insects) they find on decaying plant matter, as well as on insect eggs. Ecologically speaking, they can be considered beneficial organisms for their role feeding on other potential pests. Adult chigger mites spend the winter in the soil, under leaf litter, or in other protected places. When soil temperatures warm up in the spring, the females deposit eggs on vegetation, most often in areas where its slightly damp and the vegetation is thick. When the eggs hatch, the trouble begins. Hungry larvae crawl up the vegetation and wait for unsuspecting hosts – people, pets, or other wildlife – to wander past. Should you brush against chigger-infested vegetation, or worse, sit down to rest in shady grass full of chiggers, the tiny bugs will immediately crawl up your body, looking for a place to hide. Because chiggers measure just 1⠁„150 inch in diameter, theyre so tiny, you are unlikely to see or feel them. Backpackers, beware! If you drop your pack on the ground during a rest break, check it for chiggers before putting it back on.   Why and Where Chiggers Bite Chiggers like to settle under tight-fitting clothing, so theyll often wind up in your socks or waistband. Other favorite chigger feasting spots include the backs of your knees, your armpits, or your crotch. Once the chiggers find a good location on your body, they pierce your skin with their mouthparts and inject you with a digestive enzyme that breaks down your body tissues. Chiggers then feed on your liquefied tissues. They dont suck your blood, like mosquitoes or ticks. The chigger  remains attached to its host for several days, feeding on dissolved tissues. Once it has an adequate meal, it detaches and drops to the ground, where it continues its development into a nymph. For most people, however, the intense itching caused by the chigger bite leads to equally intense scratching, and the chigger is dislodged by frantic fingers before finishing its meal.   Avoiding Chigger Bites If youve never experienced chigger bites, consider yourself lucky and take every precaution to avoid them. To avoid chigger bites, follow three basic rules: Dress appropriately and use effective repellents when youre likely to be in potential chigger habitat.Avoid walking through chigger habitat whenever possible, and eliminate places where chiggers can breed from your property.Wash your clothing and take a shower immediately after outdoor activities where you might have encountered chiggers.