Serving Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky

Chiggers

Chiggers are the larvae of harvest mites, which are tiny arachnids that live on or just under the surface of soil. These nasty little pests do not infest your home or workplace. They are most numerous in early summer when grass, weeds and other vegetation are heaviest. Chiggers do not burrow into the skin but insert their mouthparts in a skin pore or hair follicle. Their bites produce small, reddish welts on the skin accompanied by intense itching as irritating as acute cases of poison ivory or poison sumac. These symptoms often are the only way of learning that an outdoor area is infested since chiggers are so small that most cannot be seen without a magnifying glass. Chigger’s diet includes snakes, turtles, birds, and small mammals, pets as well as humans.

After spending time out in the backyard or on a walk during the summer months, your dog can bring chiggers into the home. To prevent these bugs from hitching rides, apply regular flea and tick treatments. In addition to repelling fleas and ticks, these products also keep chiggers away.

Exterior Chigger Infestation

Adult Chigger

Our Perimeter Pest Control treatments are effective at deterring Clover Mites from invading your home or workplace. If you have not read our section on “Perimeter Pest Control” please click on that link now.