Chiggers-Some practical advice from the South

Chiggers are tiny, almost microscopic, parasites. Some people are not bothered by them, they drive other people, like me, crazy!

I would like to start by debunking some chigger myths:

1. Chiggers do not burrow into your skin nor do they simply bite and then leave. They spit acid on your skin, dissolving it, and then eat the digested skin. They stay on the surface and the bite usually only really itches when the chigger is still on your body.
2.  Chiggers do not carry diseases such as Lyme disease. They do not suck blood like ticks and mosquitoes so they can not transfer diseases.
3. Chiggers are not microscopic. If you look hard you can see them with the naked eye. (More about this in the next section.)

Now, what to do if you get into some chiggers:

Chiggers hid out in grass, moist hay, leaves, and even rocks. They like moisture, lots of ground shelter, but seem to appericate sunny lined areas (not deep dark forests but more like the edges of fields.) Personally I assume that I get chiggers every time I go outside.

So this is what I do:

1. Wipe off every inch of your skin. Chiggers do not burrow, right? So they are on top of your skin. Also, they have a soft body (they are mite nymphs) and have no exoskeleton. They run very fast, but will explore your body a long time (an hour or two) before settling down to feast. They have a soft body that is squished easily. Rub every inch of your body with a wet wash cloth or something similar.
2. As you start to feel an itch, BEFORE you scratch at all, check for a chigger and this is how:
• Get into a place with natural sunlight. For some reason you can not see them with artificial light nearly as well as with sunlight.
• Stretch the skin where you feel the itch until any pinkness disappears.
• Look for a tiny hunter orange dot. (Hopefully you have not itched because the itching will make little red dots from blood coming to the skin.)
• With your fingernail, the tip of a pocket knife, or something sharp like that, flick the tiny dot off your skin. Then squish it. If you can't see it, then rub your hands and the area.
3. Chigger bites happen. They suck, but you will be ok! Use a little antihistamin or mentholated insect bite medicine if you need. Try not to let it ruin your day!

Get outside and enjoy yourself. Good luck with the chiggers!