Chiggers (Download)
Chiggers 1 What are Chiggers? Chiggers are often referred to as “ Red Bugs” Chiggers are the larvae of harvest mites They go through 4 stages of life Egg, Larva, Nymph and Adult Chiggers are barely visible to the naked eye, they are about 1/150 th of an inch in length Adult mites have eight legs and are completely harmless 2 A Closer Look Juvenile chiggers have six legs , they are the most harmful The tiny, six-legged larval stage is a parasite found on many animals as well as humans. Larval chiggers (such as this one shown) move very quickly on the ground and crawl onto feet or legs until reaching a place such as the ankles, under socks, or behind knees. 3 How Do Chiggers Feed? Once a chigger is on the skin, it pierces and injects enzymes into the skin in order to digest the skin cells It then sucks up all the digested tissue with a tube called a stylostome They do not actually suck blood, as is often assumed Chigger bite irritation will develop 1 or 2 days after the exposure so the host may not associate the bite with the exposure to the chigger Chiggers generally stay with the host for 3 to 5 days and then will drop off to begin the next life stage, the Nymph stage, where it will feed off plants. 4 Symptoms Chigger bite irritation will develop 1 or 2 days after exposure so the chigger may not be apparent on the host when the bump finally appears Small red bumps appear on the skin in the affected area. A rash may appear where several chiggers bites have occurred in one area These tiny red bumps will remain for several days, but usually go away without scarring after treatment Chiggers in North America are not associated with carrying any diseases 5 Treatment Once the rash appears, the chigger is usually no longer present The best thing to do for a chigger bite is to wash the affected area with warm soapy water Epsom salt baths also may alleviate the itching Covering the bite areas with nail polish, calamine lotion, Vaseline, or baby oil can also help to reduce pain and itching Without treatment, the rash will last 2-3 weeks 6 Prevention Chiggers generally prefer warm, covered areas of the body. Cover the entire body with the repellent and especially focus on covering the arms and legs. Apply repellant to shoes, waistlines, and lower pants legs When choosing a repellant to combat chiggers, choose one that contains DEET There are also several types of insecticides that can be applied to the ground in order to combat chiggers 7 Breeding Areas for Chiggers Chiggers most often concentrate in disturbed forests where trees have been cut but are re-growing. They thrive in areas that have underbrush such as shrubs, brambles, briars, weeds, and saplings. In early spring, female mites lay eggs that will start hatching in early April Chigger numbers will peak in midsummer but will stay high into late fall. Only a hard freeze will kill them off. 8 Where Do Chiggers Live? In the US, Chiggers are very prevalent in the hot and humid areas They are found in the Southeast, the South, and the Midwest They are not usually found in the far northern areas, mountainous regions or deserts The life cycle for chiggers is usually 2 to 12 months and they generally are more active in the warmer months The larvae will usually congregate in groups on matted vegetation or on low hanging bushes and plants so they have easy access to prospective hosts 9 Fatality Statistics There are no known fatalities that are attributed to chiggers 10 OSHA Regulations Chiggers are not specifically mentioned in the OSHA Regulations 11 PPE and Clothing Wear boots with jeans and a long-sleeved shirt to help prevent chiggers from jumping onto workers Chiggers are attracted to skin, so covering as much skin as possible gives the best results Tuck jeans into long socks and button long-sleeved shirt wrist cuffs helps prevent chiggers from migrating to the skin. 12 Chiggers in Construction Chiggers are not normally a serious concern on construction sites There are only a few instances when contractors should take measures to protect from chiggers Take precautions when performing clearing and/or site work in mild to heavily wooded areas Employers should require the use of long sleeves and long pants when working in areas where chiggers could be present Employers should also be sure to provide adequate amounts of repellant 13 Think Safety Work Safely 14