What in the World is a Chigger?

Chiggers are in the mite family.  They are also called harvest mites, berry bugs and red bugs. They are found in forests and lowland areas and they live in berry bushes and trees.

They cause the most trouble for us when they live in the grass, weeds and other vegetation that we come into contact with. Fortunately they cannot live in our homes. They live outdoors. They don’t like humidity or sunlight.

Chiggers are very small and can best be seen with a microscope.  They are only 1/100 of an inch long. When they are in their larva stage, they attach themselves to animals and to people. They do not burrow into the skin as some believe. Nor do they “bite”. They pierce the skin, injecting enzymes that digest cells. The cells become liquefied and then the chigger eats them.

To gross you out further, the digestive fluid then causes surrounding tissues to harden and form a straw. Yes, a straw made out of hardened tissue. The straw is used to extract out partially digested skin cells.

Chigger Bites

Antihistamines can help with Chigger bites.The site that was pierced will be severely irritated. Along with the itch, most likely a red bump will appear. Hives or a rash can also common. This happens after the chigger drops off the skin. After they have their fill of human cells, they drop off and become nymphs. As adults they have 8 legs and cannot do damage to humans. The nymphs eat plants and vegetation.