What The Heck Are Chiggers?
- January 22, 2010
- Category: Daily Diary
- (31) Comments
We don’t have very many bugs in the Northeast Kingdom. Okay, I’ll admit there are pesky black flies from time to time and the occasional deer fly or horse fly but on Red Pine Mountain, we don’t even have mosquitoes.
On our first trip to the Ozarks, we learned all about chiggers. If you don’t know what a chigger is, count yourself lucky. They are creatures who have a distinct advantage because they can see us but we can’t see them. And do they ever bite. They latch on and just start chomping away. But are they content with biting legs or other bony areas? No, these beasts enjoy the most delicate areas of the body and they have a particular fondness for women and their bras. And once they have bitten you, there is nothing you can do except endure the excruciating itch until your body absorbs their distinct chigger enzyme and unfortunately it is a slow process.
After being eaten alive, we quickly learned how to deal with chiggers. Some of the local remedies we were unwilling to try such as taking a bath in bleach or coating our bodies with sulpher. We did, however, spray bug repellent all over, strip as soon as we came in and head for a steaming, hot shower to dislodge these mites. Our precautions worked and we were chigger free. It never crossed my mind that these little devils would be out in the winter. Below zero weather, frigid wind chills, surely they were gone until spring?
I woke up a couple of days ago covered with red welts that itched and burned and sure enough they were in a most delicate part. Chigger bites! Thanks to our warm up, the beasts were out in full force and decided to snack on my red polka dot bra. I’ve been in agony the past few days trying hard not to scratch. But now I know they are out there and I stand ready to do battle.
I can’t have a blog post without photos but because I sure don’t want to share my misery with you, I will leave you instead with two updated photos of our new mini donkeys, now named Tigger and Trey, who are still living with their moms at the moment.
Here’s to cold temperatures and no chiggers!
I've heard of chiggers, thankfully from your description I've never seen one that I know of.
About 200 miles north of Vermont is where the bugs start. You can't even go outside in the summer (or your dogs) because of the never ending ray of bazillions of biting insects. Funny though, cats seem to be immune from the swarms of mosquitos, blackflies etc
I've tried all the natural repellents and none of them ever work at all.
Do chiggers bother your pets ?
Date: January 22, 2010
Welcome to the Ozarks! This Ozarks farm chick just had to crack up at your wonderful encounter with the pesky little varmints. I do have to say I've been an Ozark chick for 57 (yep, I'm old) year and I have never had a chigger attack in the winter. You must be one lucky gal! Heeeheehe!
Ya'll have just a wonderfully blessed day!!!
Date: January 22, 2010
Thankfully, in the San Francisco area, I haven't seen many bugs…when it's really cold, sometimes ants come out and, occasionally, there might be a spider but I've never seen cockroaches and, gloriously, for this GA girl who well knows about chiggers, I haven't ever suffered with those bites out here. Your description brings back memories I'd rather forget!
Date: January 22, 2010
Heard of them and have had them – growing up in rural southern Illinois. Mom always dabbed clear fingernail polish on them – worked then or so I thought…to stop the itching. Would be interesting to see if it REALLY worked as an adult….but not enough to get them again.
Hope you are rid of them soon!
Date: January 22, 2010
I have never heard of those horrid creatures. The donkeys are adorable and so sweet looking. :O)
Date: January 22, 2010
I read your title & thought, "chiggers = ouch"!
I've heard that changing your blood chemistry – by drinking a little vinegar every day – is good with mosquitoes. Don't know if it works with chiggers. Fortunately we don't have them here, but i've had them when out blackberrying with cousins in KY.
Date: January 22, 2010
I am from Illinois, so I sure do know what Chiggers are! The house is coming along good.
Date: January 22, 2010
I don't think I have had to deal with chiggers before and by the sounds of it I am glad I haven't had to.
The donkeys are pretty cool and the pictures are very nice. I miss the farm I grew up on.
Date: January 22, 2010
We don't have chiggers in Seattle, but naturally, with all rain, we do have mosquitoes! Avon's Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard works wonders against mosquitoes. I wonder if it would work for chiggers, too?
Date: January 23, 2010
I grew up in Arkansas, and I have to say I never heard of chiggers in the wintertime. Funny story – once my very dignified modest 80 something year old grandmother called my mom and said she had an awful rash. We took her to the doctor, and after an embarrassing examination the doctor told her she had tiny little ticks. They are called seed ticks. Bigger than a chigger but still very hard to see. She was mortified.
To Alan….chiggers to not get on animals. They don't have underwear elastic to get under!!!
Date: January 23, 2010
I have encountered chiggers a few times. Last summer I had the welts right before my son's wedding. Luckily, the clear fingernail polish trick does work and the welts were all gone before the wedding. My husband had fun telling my son's future father in-law all about my bout of chigger bites. I was glaring at him across the church during the rehearsal. LOL
Date: January 23, 2010
Yes, I do know what chiggers are and have had my share of them for "friends"….ugh. We don't have them in our part of the Appalachian Mountains and that makes me h-a-p-p-y!
Date: January 23, 2010
I have been lucky , the chiggers only snacked on me when we moved from Ohio , then I suppose I tasted rotten, cause they never bothered me again, good luck , in the summer because I have never heard of being bit in the winter. ; )
Date: January 23, 2010
Sorry to hear about your chigger issue. I would of thought they'd be gone too.
Love the donkeys they are so cute!
Melinda
Date: January 23, 2010
got nailed by tem many many years ago.just reading about can cause me to itch.I got it while making a nature call,and I'm leaving it at that!
Date: January 23, 2010
Oh, the donkeys are adorable
Khrysta is going to be in love with them!
As far as Chiggers..yep, we have 'em here in Tn.
I have learned what flowers NOT to cut and bring in the house, because they like to travel on them. Very similiar to straw mites. ugh. They are just awful little creatures.
misha
Date: January 23, 2010
I'm itching just reading about them. They are very common in grassy areas here. They leave great purple welts on me. I have used a product called Chig-R-Rid or something like that, but can no longer find it. It was equivalent to putting clear fingernail polish on the bites, but I swear they quit itching.
Date: January 23, 2010
there is nothing I do not like more than a chigger, yet am so surprised that you are battling them at this time.. you poor thing… The last few times I had them which thank goodness was some time ago, I sweeled up like a stuck pig… I am allergic to them… how lovely… Something you might try is skin so soft from Avon… yet truly just a cap full of bleach in your bath will ease them more than you can imagine… if you can stand the smell.
Date: January 23, 2010
Ouchy! Those Chiggers sound awful1!!! Even worse than mosquitoes if you ask me. I like you donkeys, they look cute!
Date: January 23, 2010
The donkeys are adorable — I want one! Hope you feel better soon…
Date: January 23, 2010
Welcome to the central plains! I think chiggers are what's been attacking me my first two summers here in Kansas. It's miserable to have to put bug spray all over yourself every single time you head outside, but you gotta do what works. Goodness knows it's way more miserable in the long run if I DON'T put bug spray on!!
OH MY… I'm in love with your lil donkeys already. Can't wait to see pics of them in their new home!
Date: January 23, 2010
Ugh, chiggers are real!! Some folks around here have heard of them, many have not. I live in Northwest Washington State. Best of luck with avoiding those pesky varmints. Wonderful reading about you and your horse!! Great job joining her in her world, and she in yours. It's very inspiring. May I also add that she is a lovely horse, she has a great bod and her palomino color is gorgeous. She's a peach, where did you find her? Is she your only horse – if so I bet she's delighted to have the two cute lil donkeys around. Will they come along on trail rides? A friend of mine had a nice goat that would come out trail ridin' with us. Have a great day!!! Bonnie
Date: January 23, 2010
After reading all your comments I think I'll give the clear nail polish a try (post-chigger bites) and perhaps the Avon's SSS will work as a preventive. It's worth a try, and it would sure smell better!
Date: January 23, 2010
I grew up in SE Kentucky, and I am VERY familiar with chiggers. They seemed to be a constant companion to my childhood – much of it spent barefoot, of course. They can be agonizing, especially when your parents tell you not to scratch, but somehow we survived.
Date: January 23, 2010
We have a gnat that can effectively bite as well as chiggers and do bite in the folds of your skin. Behind knees, armpits, etc… I feel your pain and itchery!!! If sulfur works you could probably use a dandruff shampoo as a body soap and it will kill them. Some have a sulfur ingredient that might work. (?)
Date: January 23, 2010
More proof that y'all in the southern portion of our state have been much warmer than us! Good luck with the chiggers. And I love Trigger and Trey, of course! -Tammy
Date: January 24, 2010
We have chiggers here in Ohio. Not to fond of the little creatures. Mostly at the farm though, not any around our home.
Date: January 24, 2010
ARGH! I hate those things. we had them in Texas. in california we had no-see-ums, in idaho we have buffalo gnats. i don't feel them when they bite but oh boy afterwards my body overreacts to them, red bumps, welts, bleeding, even if I don't scratch them! no fun!
- The Equestrian Vagabond
Date: January 24, 2010
We call them red bugs and they are in the moss down in the south. Calodryl/calamine lotion may help sooth the itch or baking soda mad into a paste. Oh my gosh those minis are the cutest little babies ever. I wonder if I could have one in my backyard???
Date: January 24, 2010
I had the unpleasant experience of being chewed upon by these horrible little critters years ago when out in a rural part of Nevada. It was not fun and I never want to experience it again.
Date: January 24, 2010
Tigger and Trey are so cute!!!
Chiggers?? We got them bad this summer when in Arkansas. Two days after they drove us beserk we went swimming. That helped tremendously!!!
What I use when we are home is Young Living Purification essential oil. Stops them right in their tracks. Awesome stuff to have around!
I think Melaluca or Tea Tree oil may work also.
Thats odd that they are out in the winter tho.
We have them here in the tall grass. We seldom have a bother with them unless we go camping.
Date: January 24, 2010