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Chiggers are tiny mites that can cause itchy and uncomfortable bites. To get rid of chiggers in your yard, follow these steps:
1. Remove tall grass and weeds where chiggers thrive.
2. Trim bushes and shrubs to reduce chigger hiding spots.
3. Keep your lawn well-maintained and mowed short.
4. Use insecticides specifically designed to kill chiggers.
5. Apply a barrier treatment around your yard to prevent chiggers from entering.
6. Avoid walking through areas known to have chiggers.
7. Wear protective clothing and use insect repellent when spending time outside.
By following these tips, you can effectively eliminate chiggers from your yard and reduce the risk of getting bitten.
If you’ve ever suffered from the itchy bites and red welts caused by chiggers, you know how frustrating these tiny pests can be. Chiggers, which are the larval stage of mites known as ​Trombicula spp.​, can attach themselves to humans and other animals to feed on skin cells. Thankfully, there are several effective ways to get rid of chiggers in your yard.
When dealing with a chigger infestation, it’s important to take a two-pronged approach. First, you’ll want to make your yard less hospitable to chiggers. Second, you’ll want to make yourself less attractive to these pests. If possible, you may also consider using chemical or natural pesticides.
What Are Chiggers?
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- ​Species name:​ ​Trombicula spp​. The most common species in the United States are ​T​​rombicula alfreddugesi​ and ​Trombicula splendens​​.​ Chiggers are also known as red bugs, harvest mites, and berry mites.
- ​Physical characteristics:​ Chiggers are about 1/150th of an inch in size and are bright red or orange. They resemble small crabs with six legs, but as adults, they will have eight legs.
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- ​Wings or wingless?​ Chiggers are wingless and crawl to find a host for feeding.
- ​Life cycle:​ Chiggers, like ticks and spiders, go through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Only larvae feed on skin cells.
- ​How to tell apart from lookalikes​: People often confuse chiggers with ticks because both feed on animals. However, ticks are larger, usually brown, and have eight legs. Ticks suck blood, while chiggers digest skin cells. Unlike ticks, chiggers in North America are not known to transmit diseases.
Effective Ways to Eliminate Chiggers
There are several do-it-yourself methods for eliminating chiggers in your yard and preventing them from biting you. Organic pest control products are often more effective than synthetic chemicals found in insecticides and bug repellents.
Locate the Infestation
Chiggers tend to cluster in groups, so their population density can vary in different parts of your yard. To locate the infestation, place small sections of black cardboard upright around the yard. The chiggers will climb to the top of the cardboard and be visible against the black background.
Combatting Chiggers: Natural Solutions
Chiggers are tiny mites that can cause itchy bites. If you’re looking for ways to get rid of them without resorting to harmful chemicals, there are several natural solutions you can try.
Try Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powdery substance made from fossilized diatoms that can be used to control chiggers. It is relatively safe for humans, pets, and plants, but it can irritate the nose, lungs, eyes, and skin, so use caution when handling it. To apply DE, dust it over areas where chiggers are concentrated. The powder works by drying out the mites’ exoskeletons, causing them to die.
Use Beneficial Insects
Beneficial insects, such as leafhopper assassin bugs and nematodes, can help control chiggers and mites in your garden. These insects prey on chiggers, reducing their populations naturally. Nematodes are microscopic organisms that can be bought online or from a garden center specializing in organic gardening. Be sure to consult with someone from the garden center to determine which type of nematode is best for your needs.
Tend to Your Lawn and Garden
Chiggers thrive in overgrown areas, so keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained is important. Prune and weed dense, damp thickets of bushes and shrubs, and keep your grass short, especially around borders where the lawn meets a wooded area. Chiggers prefer shady areas, so keeping your lawn and garden well-lit can help reduce their populations. Remove leaves and other debris, and keep flower beds neat and weed-free.
Keep Hosts Out of Your Yard
Chiggers feed on reptiles and small mammals, so limiting their presence in your yard can help reduce chigger populations. Keep lids on trash cans, and use integrated pest management techniques to control wildlife on your property.
Use a Pesticide as a Last Resort
If natural solutions don’t work, you can use a commercial insecticide designed to kill chiggers. However, spraying an entire lawn is usually unnecessary and impractical. Repeat applications may be necessary, as chiggers can produce three to five generations over the warm-weather months. Follow the directions on the container carefully, and consult your county extension office for more information on chigger control.
Try a Homemade Chigger Repellent
Chiggers are repelled by strong odors, so you can make a homemade bug spray using essential oils such as clove, lemongrass, and citronella. Mix the oils together and pour them into a spray bottle. You can also try the “sulphur sock” method, which involves filling an old sock with sulphur and bumping it on your pant legs and shoes to repel chiggers.
When is it Necessary to Hire a Professional for Chigger Infestation?
If you have exhausted all other options but still find yourself struggling with pests, it may be time to consider enlisting the help of a professional pest management company. Professionals have access to pesticides that are not available to the general public and possess the skills to locate and eliminate chigger habitats. However, keep in mind that multiple visits may be necessary to effectively tackle the problem.
Pest management companies must be licensed by the state and only use pesticides registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to hiring a contractor, inquire about how pesticides will affect plants, children, and pets. Expect to pay between $75 to $200 per visit for their services.
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Where Do Chiggers Originate?
Chiggers are the larval stage of mites. They wreak havoc before reaching maturity and can be found wherever adult mites reside in the yard.
Adult mites begin laying eggs in early spring when the temperature reaches about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. These eggs are laid in clusters, and the larvae stay close to their birthplaces. They crawl around on soil, grass blades, weeds, and similar surfaces until they find a host to latch onto.
Do Chiggers Pose a Threat to Health or Cause Damage?
Chiggers are arachnids, related to ticks and spiders. Many people believe that chiggers burrow under the skin of their victims. In reality, their saliva contains enzymes that break down skin cells. It is the bite and feeding that causes itching and welts lasting up to two weeks. Fortunately, chigger bites are relatively harmless, aside from the discomfort and itching. Chiggers do not transmit diseases, although continuous scratching of welts can cause infection.
Chiggers do not cause long-term damage to hosts aside from itching and welts. Even if left unscratched or unbathed, chiggers drop off their host after three days, moving onto the nymph stage of development.
There are remedies for chigger bites and resulting welts. Pets that host chiggers may scratch to remove them, but like humans, they may feel uncomfortable. If pets are in distress, seek advice from a veterinarian.
Chiggers mature into mites that generally feed on insect eggs. This could be beneficial as they may eat mosquito eggs or eggs of other pests. Unlike spider mites, these mites are not known to harm ornamental plants or crops.
How to Prevent Chigger Bites
Avoid sitting or lying in grass where chigger clusters are present, and do not allow children to play in these areas. When outdoors, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and tuck pant legs into socks or high boots.
If you suspect you have come into contact with chiggers, brush off your clothes and wash them immediately. Take a warm bath or shower and use plenty of soap to remove chiggers from your skin.
To keep insects away, you can use bug repellent. The best ones are those with DEET (N.N-dimethyl-3-benzamide), which can be found in over-the-counter products. Different formulations have varying amounts of DEET, but higher percentages don’t necessarily work better – they just last longer. For example, 10% DEET will keep bugs away for around two hours, while 25% can last up to five hours. Some insect repellents are designed for use on clothing, furniture, and camping gear, and it’s important to follow the instructions on the product. They can usually be used on clothing, boots, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and similar items.