Chiggers, Red Bugs

Chiggers are very nasty, and in their adult stage they can also infest your pets' ears and other areas that are not covered in thick fur. I found that instead of using chemicals, petroleum jelly works great, with a Q-tip. Dip the clean Q-tip into the jelly, swirl it around, and then with one slow swipe, wipe the infested skin with it - it takes them right off, and they become encapsulated into the jelly and die. Then spread a little more jelly onto the skin, and they have no interest in biting that area. For people, there is a great natural product that I spray on my clothes and skin, and I've never had a tick or chigger bite while wearing it. Its called Ticks N All insect repellent. Uses coconut oil with rosemary, castor oil, citronella, cedar oil, etc...it smells pretty good, too.

I believe this is the bug I have been trying to identify. It is so tiny, but a bit larger than I remember chiggers. They are on my white vinyl fencing on my porch. I believe they are living inside the fence components which are hollow. l Have terrible allergies and this morning I have coughed up something with a tiny red dot which looks like this buy.

Chiggers, or red mites, are the nastyist thing here in NC to get bit by after fire ants, because they will itch for weeks and weeks and if bitten by many, can last for 6 month or longer and scar you up worse than chicken pocks from the itching. They start to come out in May when its warm enough for them not to freeze or have to hide from the frost and they last until October. They are extremely small in size and hardly even visable to the naked eyes as ticks are, and they do not stay attached like ticks after they bite you, it is there spit or saliva they inject you with, that creates this allegic reaction that lasts for weeks, and the reaction often does not occur and make you break out for up to 48 hours after you are bitten while hiking, through the tall grass or woods. The best way to ... read moreavoid getting bit is to spray your legs, ankles, and shoes down with bug spray before hiking and then to take your clothes off right away when you get home and put in the wash, and then shower or wipe your legs down with chlorine in water or low percent peroxide on a rag. Or, you may just not want to hike in the summer months here in the Southeast. peace..mike