Chiggers
Chiggers are tiny red mites belonging to the Trombiculidae family. These minuscule arachnids are found in various outdoor environments, such as grassy fields, forests, and gardens. While they may resemble insects, chiggers are actually larval-stage mites.
Chiggers are notorious for their parasitic behavior, as their larvae feed on the skin of animals and humans. Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin or suck blood. Instead, they pierce the skin and inject saliva containing digestive enzymes, which break down skin cells. The chigger then feeds on the liquefied skin tissue.
What Kinds Of Chiggers Are There?
Chiggers belong to the Trombiculidae family, which encompasses various species found worldwide. While there are many species of chiggers, they generally fall into two main categories:
1. Trombicula spp.: This genus includes numerous species of chiggers found in various regions. Trombicula species are commonly encountered in North America, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. These chiggers typically inhabit grassy fields, forests, and other outdoor environments where they can latch onto hosts, including humans and animals.
2. Leptotrombidium spp.: This genus primarily includes chiggers found in Asia and certain other regions. Leptotrombidium species are known vectors of diseases such as scrub typhus, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers. These chiggers are of particular concern in areas where scrub typhus is endemic.
While there are distinctions between chigger species based on factors such as habitat, geographic distribution, and vectorial capacity, their overall biology and behavior are similar. All chiggers go through larval, nymphal, and adult stages, with only the larval stage being parasitic. Larval chiggers feed on the skin of hosts, while nymphs and adults typically feed on vegetation or other organic matter.
Are Chiggers Bad To Have Around Your House?
Chiggers can be a nuisance if they are present around your house, especially if you or your pets frequently spend time in outdoor areas where chiggers thrive. While chiggers themselves do not cause structural damage to buildings or pose direct health risks aside from their irritating bites, their presence can lead to discomfort and itching due to their parasitic feeding habits.
Here are some reasons why having chiggers around your house can be undesirable:
• Chigger Bites: The larval stage of chiggers feeds on the skin of animals and humans, including humans. Their bites can result in intense itching, red welts, and discomfort, especially in sensitive areas of the body.
• Outdoor Activities: If your property has areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, or moist soil, these may provide suitable habitats for chiggers. This can limit outdoor activities such as gardening, playing, or relaxing in certain areas without taking preventive measures against chigger bites.
• Pet Health: Pets that spend time outdoors, particularly in areas with chiggers, may also be susceptible to chigger bites. This can lead to discomfort for your pets and potentially necessitate veterinary care if they develop allergic reactions or secondary skin infections from excessive scratching.
• Transmission of Diseases: While chiggers themselves do not transmit diseases to humans in most cases, certain species of chiggers, particularly in Asia, are vectors for diseases such as scrub typhus. However, this is not a concern in regions where scrub typhus is not endemic.
What Attracts Chiggers?
Chiggers are attracted to a combination of environmental factors and the presence of potential hosts, such as humans and animals. Understanding what attracts chiggers can help in implementing preventive measures to reduce the risk of encountering them. Here are some factors that attract chiggers:
1. Moisture: Chiggers thrive in humid and moist environments, such as tall grass, shrubs, and wooded areas with dense vegetation. Moist soil provides an ideal habitat for chiggers to lay their eggs and develop into larvae.
2. Vegetation: Dense vegetation, including tall grass, weeds, bushes, and leaf litter, provides hiding places and shelter for chiggers. They may climb onto vegetation and wait for passing hosts to latch onto.
3. Warmth: Chiggers are more active and abundant during warm weather conditions, typically in spring and summer when temperatures are higher. Warm temperatures promote their development and activity.
4. Carbon Dioxide: Like many other insects and arachnids, chiggers are attracted to the carbon dioxide exhaled by animals, including humans. Carbon dioxide acts as a chemical cue that helps chiggers locate potential hosts.
5. Hosts: Chiggers require a blood meal to develop into nymphs and adults. They are attracted to hosts such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and humans. When hosts pass through chigger-infested areas, the chiggers may attach themselves to the host's skin and feed on their blood.
6. Covered Skin: Chiggers prefer to attach to areas of the body where clothing fits tightly against the skin, such as ankles, waistlines, and armpits. Tight clothing provides chiggers with easier access to the skin and reduces the risk of being dislodged.
How To Get Rid of Chiggers From Your House With Alta Pest Control
While chiggers are primarily outdoor pests, they can be inadvertently carried into homes on clothing or pets. Here's how Alta Pest Control can help you get rid of chiggers from your house:
- Inspection and Identification: Our trained technicians will conduct a thorough inspection of your property to identify areas where chiggers may be present. This includes outdoor areas such as lawns, gardens, and shrubbery, as well as indoor spaces where chiggers may have been carried inside.
- Treatment Plan: Based on the inspection findings, we'll develop a customized treatment plan to target chiggers effectively. This plan may include a combination of outdoor and indoor treatments to address chigger populations both inside and outside your home.
- Outdoor Treatment: We'll apply targeted treatments to outdoor areas where chiggers are likely to reside, such as grassy areas, shrubs, and vegetation. This may involve the application of insecticides or other pest control products to reduce chigger populations and prevent their return.
- Indoor Treatment: If chiggers have been brought inside your home, we'll employ indoor treatment methods to eliminate them. This may include the use of residual insecticides or other appropriate products to target chiggers hiding in carpets, furniture, or other indoor surfaces.
- Preventive Measures: In addition to treatment, we'll provide recommendations for preventive measures to minimize the risk of chigger infestations in the future. This may include advice on landscaping practices, outdoor maintenance, and personal protective measures to reduce contact with chiggers when spending time outdoors.
- Ongoing Support: If you're still dealing with chiggers after the initial treatment, don't worry – we offer free re-services to address any lingering issues. Simply give us a call, and we'll promptly schedule a follow-up treatment at no additional cost to you. In addition to free re-services, we also provide ongoing support to keep your home chigger-free. We'll schedule regular appointments every quarter to proactively monitor and address any pest issues that may arise. This proactive approach helps ensure long-term protection against not only chiggers but also other common pests such as ants, carpenter bees, wasps, spiders, and more.
At Alta Pest Control, we're committed to providing effective chigger control solutions tailored to your specific needs. With our expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction, you can trust us to help you reclaim your home from chiggers and enjoy a pest-free environment.
While we cannot guarantee complete eradication of chiggers due to their outdoor nature and mobility, Alta Pest Control can effectively treat for them. Our comprehensive treatment approach targets chigger populations both indoors and outdoors, helping to reduce their presence around your home.
Additionally, our products and treatments are designed to not only address chiggers but also help deal with other common pests you may encounter. Whether it's ants, carpenter bees, wasps, spiders, or other nuisance pests, our treatments are formulated to provide comprehensive pest control solutions for your peace of mind.
At Alta Pest Control, we prioritize customer satisfaction and strive to exceed your expectations with every service we provide. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a pest-free home environment.