ScientificName: Trombicula alfreddugesi
Description: Mites that can only be seen using a magnification device.
Habitat/Food: Chiggers prefer dry grassy areas. They attach themselves to human or animal skin and release a digestive juice that enables them to feed like a tick. Their secretion causes the redness and itching that most people associate with a chigger bite.
Life Cycle: Adult chiggers spend the winter in hiding and then lay eggs in spring. After feeding the larvae fall off and eventually become an adult (40-70 days), which feeds on insects. There can be up to four generations in a year.
Organic Control: Any organic pesticides that specify chiggers can be used. Sulfur acts as a repellant.
Interesting Fact: Nail polish does no more in removing chiggers than a good scrub with soap and water.