Chiggers are tropical fleas that require a host for their survival. Their hosts are animals and humans. In their larvae stage, some chiggers bite humans or animals and can cause irritation and disease like dermatitis. Chiggers mostly feed on human and animal skin tissues. Chiggers remain on human skin for 1 to 2 days.

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Chiggers are found in the vegetation of low damp areas such as in bushes, orchards, woodlands, grasslands, forests, and they are present in golf courses, parks, and grounds. They appear in the early summer season because of dense vegetation. Chiggers are found throughout the world. 

Chiggers are considered useful creatures for our ecosystem because they eat many soil invertebrates that have an impact on our food and forests. Chiggers are tiny creatures and they are about 1/60 of an inch. They can be seen through a magnifying glass. 

Chiggers mostly feed on human and animal blood while chigger’s larvae feed on human skin tissues. Adult chiggers also feed on dead and decaying organic matter and insects in the soil. Chiggers are not able to eat live insects. However, Chiggers do eat dead insects like ants, termites, crickets, grasshoppers, and many others.

Chiggers are mostly present on old wood benches, human clothes, and in dense vegetation areas where they can get proper shade and can attach to their host. When larvae chiggers bite on human skin it forms red blisters, pimples, and small hives.

Chiggers don’t prefer to live in beds like other mites because they need a warm body so that they can get their meal. Chiggers don’t survive indoors. Chiggers mostly bite in the areas like ankles, waist, armpits, and behind the knees.

What chiggers don’t eat?

Chiggers don’t eat live insects and animals. They only remain on animals for their meal. Chiggers don’t eat plants, fruits, or any vegetables. Chiggers remain stuck to the vegetation for their host. 

Chiggers can be immediately removed from the skin by rubbing alcohol in that area where they cause itching and irritation.