No one enjoys itchy bug bites, however chigger bites are a number of the worst you will get. As if that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, their bites maintain getting itchier for a number of days after you get them. Sadly, these tiny pink bugs dwell in most areas of the nation, and so they’re particularly prevalent within the Southeast and Midwestern areas of the USA. Nonetheless, there are a number of methods to forestall chiggers and be sure to don’t get swarmed with itchy pink dots.
If you wish to stop chiggers and defend your self from chigger bites, you can begin by staying out of tall grass and wooded areas, maintaining with landscaping, and getting showers instantly after coming indoors. Nonetheless, if you need a faster repair, think about hiring a pest management skilled or exterminator to spray your property and get rid of chiggers. Hold studying to be taught extra about the best way to stop chiggers and what to do should you discover chigger bites in your physique.
What Are Chiggers?
Chiggers (Trombiculidae) are small mites that thrive in wooded or grassy areas close to water, particularly throughout heat temperatures. These arachnids are “cousins” to ticks and spiders and are practically invisible to the bare eye.
They’re extraordinarily small, however should you do spot one, grownup chiggers are normally shiny pink and yellow. They’re usually orange through the larval stage. As larvae, chiggers have six legs. As adults and nymphs, they’ll have eight legs.
Chiggers hatch from eggs as larvae and feed on pores and skin tissue from a number, both animal or human, as mites, earlier than leaving the host and growing into grownup mites. Their bites are extraordinarily itchy and might even become small welts or blisters in some instances.
Why Do Chiggers Chew?
Chigger larvae search for human or animal hosts and can connect to human clothes. Then, they transfer to your pores and skin to feed. As soon as in your pores and skin, chigger larvae launch a liquid chemical into your pores and skin, which kills pores and skin cells. In accordance with Cleveland Clinic, chiggers type a tiny straw out of the lifeless pores and skin cells, referred to as a stylostome, to drink human pores and skin tissue.
These bites are very itchy as a result of people reply poorly to the liquid chemical (digestive enzyme) that chiggers launch after they chunk. The primary 24 to 48 hours after the chunk is normally probably the most uncomfortable and itchy. Nonetheless, should you maintain scratching the bites, they will maintain getting worse over time.
What Does a Chigger Chew Look Like?
For those who suspect a chigger has bitten you, search for speckled traces of pimples or pink bumps in your pores and skin. In contrast to mattress bug bites, chigger bites usually tend to be concentrated in a single space, particularly the place clothes is tight in opposition to your physique.
You’ll additionally discover intense itching within the chunk space roughly three hours after the preliminary chunk. Anti-itch lotions, chilly compresses, calamine lotion, and over-the-counter antihistamines can assist deal with chigger bites and ease your discomfort.
Chiggers aren’t normally harmful, however some contaminated chiggers can unfold scrub typhus, so it helps to watch out when coping with chigger bites. Hold a detailed eye out for an infection, and you should definitely wash the bitten areas with cleaning soap and water frequently.
How one can Stop Chiggers
For those who suspect you’ve got a chigger infestation in your property and wish to take measures to forestall them, I like to recommend the next steps:
Keep Out of Tall Grass and Wooded Areas
In accordance with the New York Metropolis authorities web site, chiggers love overgrown areas, leaf litter, and different damp and shaded areas. For those who can keep away from these areas, do your greatest to steer clear.
Hold Up With Landscaping
To chop down on chiggers, trim again overgrown bushes, tall grass, and bushes to scale back the variety of shady areas in your property. Chiggers like to dwell in these areas, so sustain with weed pulling to forestall thick vegetation from forming.
Take a Scorching Bathe as Quickly as You Get Inside
For those who’ve been exterior mountain climbing or having fun with the nice and cozy climate, bathe instantly to rid your self of any bugs that will have gotten on you. Use scorching and soapy water and rinse your physique repeatedly.
Wash Garments After Being Outdoors
Place your clothes into the washer instantly after coming inside to forestall any undesirable pests from escaping into your own home. While you run the load, use scorching water to handle any bugs.
Take away Trash Usually
Chiggers and plenty of different pests choose damp, darkish areas whereas ready for prey. Trash cans are splendid locations for pests as a result of moisture naturally collects below newspapers, wrappers, meals, and different trash. Take care to take away your trash frequently, and don’t depart trash scattered round your property.
Get Skilled Pest Management Assist
When you have a chigger infestation or dwell in an space at excessive threat of chiggers, think about hiring probably the greatest pest management firms to service your property. Knowledgeable can spray your property for fleas, mosquitoes, harvest mites, and extra, permitting you to eliminate chiggers close to your own home.
How one can Stop Chigger Bites
Chiggers normally chunk people the place pores and skin and clothes are in shut contact, significantly bra traces, waistbands, sock traces, anyplace with uncovered pores and skin, or anywhere the place your pores and skin folds.
Widespread chigger chunk areas embody:
- Waist
- Ankles
- Decrease legs
- Behind your knees
- Groin
- Armpits
Scale back your threat of chigger bites utilizing the next suggestions:
- Spray a bug spray with DEET or a vinegar bug repellent to guard your self from insect bites.
- Put on protecting clothes, reminiscent of tall socks, shirts with lengthy sleeves, and lengthy pant legs.
- Deal with your clothes with insect repellent earlier than going into the woods for any out of doors actions to repel chiggers and mosquitoes.
- Restrict your time exterior in grassy, wooded, and moist areas throughout late spring and the summer season months.
- Spray your property with pesticides to scale back the variety of chiggers close by.
- Keep away from strolling by way of vegetation or tall grass when you’re mountain climbing. Select plant-free paths or laborious surfaces to stroll on when doable.
- Keep in sunny areas. Chiggers dislike shiny daylight, so you possibly can cut back your publicity by staying within the solar.
You can too create your personal chigger repellent spray utilizing a mixture of your favourite important oils, witch hazel, and water. Merely spray your self and your clothes with this house treatment to repel these irritating bugs earlier than you go into the woods.
One other approach to take your protecting clothes to the subsequent stage is by including a pair of tights or pantyhose beneath your pants. Chiggers can’t chunk by way of pantyhose or tight materials, defending your pores and skin.
How To Deal with Chigger Bites
It’s tempting to scratch chigger bites, however do your greatest to keep away from scratching the affected space. I can inform you from expertise that chigger bites itch lots, however you possibly can put your self in danger should you break the pores and skin on the chunk, doubtlessly resulting in an an infection. For those who do scratch or break the pores and skin, wash the realm totally with cleaning soap and water.
If the itching will get to be an excessive amount of to bear, strive utilizing an over-the-counter anti-itch cream, hydrocortisone, or antihistamines to scale back itching and ache. Rubbing alcohol and different antiseptics may also assist cut back the signs of chigger bites and decrease your threat of an infection.
Closing Ideas on How one can Stop Chiggers
Whereas they might not be very harmful, chiggers are nonetheless a large nuisance. They’re a number of the itchiest bites I’ve ever had, and so they can undoubtedly put a damper in your summer season out of doors adventures. For those who don’t need chigger bites, you should definitely use the DIY pest management suggestions above to forestall getting them within the first place.
When doubtful, think about hiring a pest management skilled to spray your yard for chiggers. Pest management prices will be costly however very worthwhile. When you go the entire season with none itchy chigger bites, you’ll be glad you employed professionals to deal with your pest issues.
Incessantly Requested Questions
How lengthy do chigger bites usually final?
Chigger bites usually take one or two weeks to heal. Nonetheless, should you scratch the bites, it might probably take for much longer.
Do chiggers burrow below the pores and skin?
No, chiggers don’t burrow below the pores and skin. It is a widespread fable. Chigger bites itch due to the digestive enzyme they inject into the pores and skin.
Can I get chigger bites within the winter?
Chiggers are most energetic in Summer season and Fall, however should you dwell in a tropical local weather, they could possibly be energetic all 12 months lengthy. You’ll want to take precautions the entire 12 months to forestall chigger bites in hotter areas of the nation.
