1. Chigger identification
Chiggers, or harvest mites are microscopic, reddish arachnids that usually cannot be seen with the naked eye. The larvae (babies) hatch in grass and foliage and attach themselves to anyone who gets close enough for them to climb onto. After finding a suitable host, the larvae attaches itself to a pore or hair follicle and injects digestive enzymes into the hole that promptly dissolve the surrounding skin cells which are then used for nourishment by the growing chigger. Once they’ve eaten their fill they release from their hosts, grow into adults and feed on plant matter on which they lay more eggs.
The bites themselves usually progress into super-itchy, raised red welts that can take up to two weeks to heal. Below you will find instructions for eliminating chiggers as well as reducing the effects of their bites.
2. Eliminating chiggers from your property
Chiggers are active during the warm season from spring to early fall. They can be found living in berry patches and bushes, tall grass and weeds, straw, leaves, fences, bark, and dense foliage.
Shelter and breeding grounds
Outside, keep grass trimmed and weeds pulled. Remove any dense foliage that isn’t part of the landscaping as well as piles of decaying leaves and plant matter. Flood all remaining foliage with a mixture of soap and water to kill off adults and larvae. Repeat the flood once a week for a month to get newly hatched larvae and you should have eliminated most of them.
If they’ve made it into your houseplants, move them outdoors and kill the adults and larvae by soaking them with a mild insecticidal soap that is labeled as safe for edibles or houseplants. Keep the plants away from people and pets and repeat the rinse weekly for four weeks.
3. Chigger treatment and prevention
If a person or pet becomes infested with chiggers, it’s important that you wash them as well as their clothing at the same time. Otherwise larvae that hadn’t yet made it to the skin can stick around for another chance and once they feed, they will drop off and head for the nearest houseplant.
2006-08-05 05:13:40
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
0⤋
What You Should Do
If you think you've been bitten by a chigger, wash the bite with soap and water. Put on some calamine lotion or cool compresses to help with the itching, or an adult can find an anti-itch cream or medicine at the drugstore for you. Try not to scratch the bites too much, because this can make the bites become infected.
2006-08-05 05:15:44
·
answer #2
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Fingernail polish works well, as was already stated...but you can also add a cap of bleach to bathwater...it really does work...i know...i grew up in OKLAHOMA...tons of chiggers...
2006-08-05 05:24:26
·
answer #3
·
answered by dahublaz 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
Yeah, that's a major league bummer. Get some Lanacaine ointment and apply it. It'll make you think you died and went to heaven--till you have to reapply the stuff.
2006-08-05 05:30:03
·
answer #4
·
answered by DelK 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
I know it sounds crazy, but put clear fingernail polish over the bites.
2006-08-05 05:14:13
·
answer #5
·
answered by melissa8886 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
go get some clear nail polish,it will suffocate them out of your skin.
and you can go to your drug store and get sulfur powder to
keep them off
2006-08-05 05:15:29
·
answer #6
·
answered by ? 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Please see the webpages for more details on Chiggers (Harvest mite).
2006-08-05 06:01:43
·
answer #7
·
answered by gangadharan nair 7
·
0⤊
0⤋