Everything You Need to Know About Chiggers

Our Texas insect expert answers common questions about bugs.

By Laura RiceJuly 15, 2015 12:50 pm

Wizzie Brown is a program specialist with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office.

Why are there so many chiggers this year? 

“They like wet, moist habitats so all the rain that we had is making it a great place for them. Usually you find chiggers in damp, low lying areas of vegetation.”

Do chiggers burrow into your skin? 

“They are not on you, they are not burrowing into your body…they will climb up your body when you go into an infested area. They find a tight place to feed, and that’s usually around your socks, behind your knees, around your waistband, armpits, that sort of thing. Usually you will brush them off your body or wash them off your body within few hours”

What causes all the red bumps? 

“Your body is breaking down the feeding tube that they leave behind. And that’s what causes the red, itchy welt. Putting nail polish on your chigger bites is going to do absolutely nothing – usually just use an anti-itch cream on those, and then try to figure out where you got into the chiggers and then you’ll want to treat that particular area.”

Listen to the full segment in the player above.