Chiggers - Nature Cures®

Also known as Prostigmata, harvest mites and scrub mites.

Chiggers are only about 1/50th of an inch (0.5 mm) in diameter and so are too small to be seen with the naked eye. This invisibility is the reason so many people believe chiggers burrow under the skin.

Chiggers can live in any number of environments, but they are especially concentrated in damp areas with a lot of vegetation. They are attracted to concealed, moist conditions on hosts, too, so they tend to attach to skin under tight clothing, such as socks and underwear, or in concealed areas of the body, such as the groin and the armpits.

Chiggers can be caught from woods or an open field in spring, summer or autumn and leave red, itchy bumps on the skin especially around the waistband or on the ankles. Chiggers are the larvae of mites belonging to the suborder Prostigmata.

Chigger mites life cycle

Like ticks and spiders, mites go through three biological stages in their life cycle: They begin as eggs, hatch as larvae, develop into nymphs and finally become adults. Nymph and adult harvest mites feed mostly on plant life and don’t bother people or other mammals, but in the larval stage, many of the species in the Prostigmata suborder are parasitic.

After a parasitic chigger hatches, it finds a good position on tall grass or other vegetation so it can spring onto a passing animal. When it finds an animal, it attaches to the animal to gather the protein it needs to grow into the nymph stage. They do not burrow under the skin, nor do they feed on animal blood. They actually feed on the fluids in skin cells.

To get the fluids, they attach themselves to a skin pore or hair follicle and inject a digestive enzyme that ruptures the cells. The enzyme also hardens the surrounding skin tissue, forming a sort of straw for sucking the skin cell fluids. The whole process irritates the skin, causing an itchy red bump that continues to cause discomfort for several days.

Chigger larvae can stay feeding on a human for 3-4 days but often drop off much sooner through movement or scratching. The intense itching and inflammation from a chigger bite can persist for days or even weeks, long after the chigger has detached or died. They do not survive in the home as they need to be outdoors to complete their life cycle.

Chigger bite prevention

One way to decrease the chance of chigger bites is to wear loose clothing when in woodlands or other infested areas. Also take a shower upon returning from an outdoor expedition, to remove any chiggers before they attach to the skin.

Chigger bite complications

Chigger bites can get infected so the irritated area must be kept clean and refrain as much as possible from scratching. In some parts of the world, chiggers may pose a more serious threat. In some areas of Asia for example, certain chigger species carry the disease scrub typhus. If a lot of time is spent outdoors, it is important to find out from an insect and spider field guide, what sort of chiggers are in the area.

Nature cures to relieve the itching of chigger bites

Chigger bites reactions only last for a few days although the inflammation and redness may linger for around two weeks. To treat chigger bites, firstly shower with soap and water to remove any remaining chiggers, then use any of the following g to relieve the itching and inflammation.

Aloe vera
Apple cider vinegar
Baking soda pastes
Cold compress
Epsom salt bath
Ice packs
Tea tree oil

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