Chiggers are bugs so small that you need a magnifying glass to spot them. Scientists call these creatures “trombiculid mites” because theyre from a family of mites called Neotrombicula autumnalis. But they have a bunch of nicknames. In North America, theyre usually called chiggers. In Britain, theyre known as harvest mites. They can also be called berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs, or scrub-itch mites.Â
Chiggers are so small that you probably wont see them. Although youll see (and feel) their itchy bites, they usually dont cause serious harm. (Photo Credit: WebMD Illustration: Dreamstime, Wikimedia Commons).
Chiggers actually arent insects. Theyre “arachnids,” in the same family as spiders and ticks. And while chiggers arent a huge threat to your health, their bites can leave you with a strong urge to scratch.
Adult chiggers dont bite. Its the babies, called larvae, that you have to watch out for.Â
If youre a fan of things that creep and crawl, Â you may find chiggers to be really cool. If not, a close-up picture of a chigger may remind you of something out of a horror movie.Â
Chiggers are no more than 0.3 millimeters long, but zoom in and youll see that theyre hairy and red. (And turn yellow once theyre full.) Once chiggers become adults, they have eight legs, but the young ones that bite you only have six. And while chiggers do have mouth parts that can pierce your skin, these pinchers are short and not very strong. Thats why chiggers bite soft parts of your skin that fold or wrinkle.
You can travel across the globe, but you cant escape these pests. Chiggers live in every country. Their favorite spots are moist, grassy areas like fields, forests, and even your lawn. You can also find them near lakes and streams.
After they hatch from eggs, baby chiggers dont fly very far on their own. They tend to stay clumped together in large groups on leaves and grass, usually less than a foot off the ground, and attach to animals or people as they pass by.
In the U.S., chigger bites are most common in the late spring, summer, and early fall. The bugs are active when the ground temperature is between 77 and 86 F, and they cant survive once it gets colder than 42 F.
As the weather warms up and you start spending more time outdoors you may notice itchy red bumps appearing on your skin after being in the yard. Chances are you’ve been bitten by bugs hiding in the grass! Many biting insects like to dwell among the blades of grass and low vegetation, where they can quickly hop aboard passing humans and animals looking for a meal. Getting bitten can range from a minor nuisance to a potentially serious medical issue if you have allergies or the bugs spread disease.
Knowing how to identify the bugs biting you is key to protecting yourself and getting rid of them. Here’s an overview of the most common grass-dwelling bugs that bite, how to spot their bites and tips for keeping them away so you can enjoy your yard bite-free!
Types of Biting Bugs in Grass
Chiggers
Chiggers are tiny mites that inhabit grassy areas and attach themselves to humans or animals that brush by. Their bites often occur around the ankles, waist, armpits, or other areas where skin touches tight clothing. The surrounding skin may become red, itchy, and bumpy. There could be a central blister or scab where the chigger fed on your skin fluids. Chiggers can’t fly or jump, so they grab onto passing hosts from their perches on grass blades and low shrubs.
Ticks
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that thrive in moist, grassy habitats. Many ticks carry harmful diseases like Lyme disease, so their bites should not be taken lightly. Tick bites often go unnoticed until you discover the tick itself attached to your skin, especially in hidden areas like the armpits, groin, and scalp. The bite site may turn red and itchy. Ticks grasp onto you when you brush by grass and bushes where they lurk.
Fleas
Fleas prefer areas with tall grasses and thrive in the hot, humid climates of the South. They can latch onto humans and pets simply walking by, then quickly bite with their siphon-like mouth. Flea bites look like small red bumps that often appear in clusters. The bites may also bleed and will feel painfully itchy. Fleas may end up around your property when wildlife like deer, raccoons, or feral cats travel through.
Mosquitoes
It goes without saying that mosquitoes love buzzing close to the ground amongst grass and vegetation. Females bite humans and animals to extract blood for their eggs. Mosquito bites form red, round, itchy bumps, sometimes with a swollen white center where the proboscis pierced your skin. Overwatering your lawn creates perfect soggy breeding habitats for mosquitoes.
Ants
Some ants like fire ants and army ants can deliver painful stings if disturbed. Their mounds built within lawns and gardens put them close to foot traffic. Ant bites cause blister-like lesions that burn and itch. Venomous ants often bite repeatedly, so you’ll see clusters of bites. Trying to destroy nests can provoke aggressive swarming.
Ground Bees
Ground-nesting bees like digger bees build solitary nests in bare patches of loose soil within lawns and gardens. Females have a stinger for defense but rarely sting unless you step on or bother their nests. Stings produce a painful red welt that swells and itches at the site. Watch for nest holes during yard work and avoid the area so bees won’t feel threatened.
Spiders
Some spiders that creep amongst grassy areas and shrubs may bite humans, including brown recluses, hobo spiders, and jumping spiders. Bites cause mild to severe reactions depending on the species and your sensitivity, ranging from mild red marks to necrotic wounds. Very few spider species are aggressive toward humans, so bites typically only happen if trapped against your skin.
How to Avoid Bug Bites in the Yard
Luckily, there are many effective strategies to reduce your exposure to biting pests that live in lawns and gardens:
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Apply mosquito repellent with DEET before going outside, reapplying according to the label instructions.
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Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants to keep bugs off your skin.
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Avoid tall grasses, brush, and shaded areas where ticks thrive.
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Carefully inspect your skin and clothing after being outside to look for attached ticks.
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Keep grass mowed short and shrubs trimmed back so bugs have fewer places to hide.
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Eliminate standing water from puddles, pots, and gutters so mosquitoes can’t breed.
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Skip brightly colored clothing, which seems to attract some insects.
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Be careful around ground nests and ant mounds so you don’t disturb them.
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Apply pesticides labeled for yard pests like fleas, ticks, and spiders.
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Attract natural predators like birds, frogs, lizards, and bats to eat insect populations.
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Seal cracks, install screens, and use yellow bug lights to keep pests from entering your home.
Staying vigilant and proactive can help you enjoy your outdoor spaces with minimal annoyance from biting and stinging insects. But you may also consider hiring a professional pest control company if you have severe infestations of yard pests that require a heavy-duty treatment plan to eliminate. With a multi-pronged approach, you and your family can have fun playing and relaxing in the yard all season long with barefoot confidence!
How to Get Rid of Chiggers
To help keep these pesky mites out of your yard, try to stay on top of mowing, weeding, and removing brush. In severe cases, some pest control treatments can help. Look for a lawn spray that contains one of these chemicals:
To apply, follow the steps on the label. Make sure to keep pets out of the area until its fully dry. Many pest control products can be toxic to pets.
Keep in mind that these treatments wont get rid of chiggers for good. Theyll likely only clear your yard for a week or two.
How to prevent bites
The best way to avoid chigger bites? Try to avoid places where they thrive, such as grassy or wooded areas. (Especially in summer â chiggers love hot, humid weather.) Â
When you do spend time outdoors where chiggers may be, use an insect repellent that has DEET or wear clothing treated with an insecticide like permethrin. As you put on bug spray, pay close attention to areas where chiggers might travel from clothing to your skin, like the waist of your pants and the tops of your socks.
Some studies show that natural sprays may help keep chiggers away. Try ones that have oils made from citronella, tea tree, jojoba, eucalyptus, geranium, or lemon grass.
And of course, dont make yourself an easy target for a hungry chigger. Wear long sleeves and long pants, with your pant legs tucked into long socks. Once you come inside, take a shower to wash off any chiggers that may have hitched a ride.
Chiggers on dogs and other pets
Chiggers can feed on your pets as well as you. Youre most likely to see them on your dog or cats head, belly, feet, or ears, because these areas have less fur. Even if you dont see the chiggers themselves, you could notice your pet scratching a lot. You could also spot redness, bumps that may be crusty, and bald patches.
Call your veterinarian for advice on how to help your pet. If scratching has caused their skin to become infected, they may need an antibiotic or other medicine.
Chiggers are mites that feed on your skin, found in areas with tall grass, dead leaves, or lots of brush. While their bite can cause redness, bumps, blisters, and severe itching, chiggers in the U.S. dont cause disease. If youve been exposed to chiggers, wash the area or take a shower as soon as you can. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams are usually enough to soothe your skin.
If your skin gets worse, call your doctor. You may have an infection that needs to be treated.
How long do chiggers stay on you?
Chiggers can stay on your skin for a few days while they feed. Once theyre full, theyll drop off. But you dont need to wait for that to happen. Scratching or washing the area is enough to bump a chigger off even sooner.Â
Can chiggers live in your bed?
Chiggers are found outside. They only come inside once theyre attached to you. Thats unlike bedbugs â small, flat bugs that feed on your blood while you sleep. Once a chigger bites you, it cant bite you (or anyone else) again. Bedbugs, on the other hand, can live several months between feedings.
What do chiggers look like on a human body?
Remember, chiggers are so tiny that you probably wont see them. (But youll feel itchy.) You can see an adult chigger, though. Not only are they bigger and bright red, but they have eight legs instead of six. The good news? Adult chiggers wont bite you.
Treatment for Chigger Bites
If you think youve been around chiggers, give yourself a full body check. You may be able to see tiny red dots, either moving very quickly or attached to your skin.
Your first step: Take a bath or shower and scrub your skin with soap and water. This washes off any chiggers that are still on you.
Using hot water, wash your clothes and any blankets or towels that touched the ground to kill any bugs that are still hanging on.
Then treat your bites with an over-the-counter anti-itch cream or ointment, like menthol, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone. You can also get relief if you take antihistamine pills or use a cold compress.
You dont need an anti-parasite drug to get rid of chiggers. Oral drugs like ivermectin are prescribed to treat a different kind of mite, called scabies. Â
Another myth is that you can kill chiggers by smearing nail polish or petroleum jelly on your skin. This doesnt work either.
Chigger bites usually get better on their own. But if yours still bother you after a few days, see your doctor. In rare cases, you may need steroid shots to calm itching and swelling. Your doctor may also ask you to take antibiotics if your bites become infected.
CHIGGERS BITE: Everything You Need To Know
FAQ
What are the little bug bites in the grass?
Chigger bites can cause itchy, inflamed bumps on the skin. These larval mites are common in grassy and woodland environments and are often too small for you to notice them. Symptoms of chigger bites typically resolve independently. Antihistamines, cold compresses, and anti-itch lotions can help manage symptoms.
What is biting me in my yard that I can’t see?
Sand flies, also called biting gnats, punkies or no-see-ums, breed in swamps, marshes and other moist areas outdoors. They are vicious biters yet so small (1/32″- 1/8″) that their presence often goes unnoticed.
How do you get rid of grass mite bites?
- Cleaning the area well with soap and water.
- Using an antihistamine, if needed, for itching. …
- Applying cool compresses or an ice pack to the area to decrease itching and swelling. …
- Using other creams for swelling or pain.
- Taking over the counter pain medicines, as directed, for mild pain.
What happens if a chinch bug bites you?
These bugs do not normally bite or sting humans. Many types of insects are attracted to perfume or perfumed lotions. If insects are squashed against the skin, it may cause a burning feeling for a short time. As far as is known, these insects do not carry disease.