Avoid Chiggers!

[Knitting_Guy]

I am, or at least used to be, one of those people that insects either didn't think I tasted good or just didn't have any reaction to their bites. But while out geocaching a few days ago I unknowingly got into an area infested with chiggers.

They made their way into my right hiking shoe and made a buffet of my foot and ankle. I didn't even know it until that evening when I pulled off my shoes and socks. My foot and ankle were covered with chigger bites. They really, really itch.

I have since learned that chiggers are really bad this year and a lot more people are being bitten by these nearly invisible little pests. The bites itch like mad and scratching can just lead to secondary infections.

On the pharmacist's recommendation I am treating them by washing them with alcohol and alternating cortisone cream and Benadryl cream every two hours. It helps.

Take care folks about walking around in grass and such places. The chiggers are out to get you.

[mrs desert rain]

Chiggers! I remember them not-so-fondly from my childhood. Such a miserable feeling, especially when it's hot and muggy out.

Sounds like your remedy is working -- calamine lotion was our trick.

[dustinac]

I love to be outside esp. knitting in my swing but all bugs love me... chiggers drive me crazy... I spray my shoes, feet, legs, clothes, arms, and put some on my hair...yet those things still get on me and it says on the off outdoors bottle they won't... drives me crazy... dad keeps saying it's something I'm wearing so I tried using just plain ol' soap... still they found me...

[Susan P.]

Never heard of chiggers but calamine lotion is great.

[Lady Violet]

oh bummer. i was hoping for a picture.
i've never had chiggers, but i had a friend who had them way back when we were in high school. i know they're no fun.

[figaro]

You just gave another reason to not go outside until after we move! Right now we cannot go out into the yard even after it has been mowed, it is that bad with TICKS! I hate 'em! I even got one in my head while walking to get my paper, the sucker landed on my head from a tree. I had one on my sock from stepping on a rock to get the paper that hubby threw up to me and it landed in the grass.

5 more weeks and we are back in the city and out of the noisy country! (there are some real loud bugs out here!)

(sorry if I hijacked the chigger thread!)

[Knitting_Guy]

Never heard of chiggers but calamine lotion is great.

Chiggers are a larval mite that are so small you can't usually see them with the naked eye, but leave a very itchy and painful bite.

Here's a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_mite

Terrible creatures.

[Knitting_Guy]

I love to be outside esp. knitting in my swing but all bugs love me... chiggers drive me crazy... I spray my shoes, feet, legs, clothes, arms, and put some on my hair...yet those things still get on me and it says on the off outdoors bottle they won't... drives me crazy... dad keeps saying it's something I'm wearing so I tried using just plain ol' soap... still they found me...

For me that's the most annoying part. I have never been a favorite of insects but I guess with age my body chemistry is changing. They have never bothered me before. Very annoying.

[Knitting_Guy]

oh bummer. i was hoping for a picture.

Ok,

Chigger:




One of my chigger bites:

[Knitting_Guy]

You just gave another reason to not go outside until after we move! Right now we cannot go out into the yard even after it has been mowed, it is that bad with TICKS! I hate 'em! I even got one in my head while walking to get my paper, the sucker landed on my head from a tree. I had one on my sock from stepping on a rock to get the paper that hubby threw up to me and it landed in the grass.

5 more weeks and we are back in the city and out of the noisy country! (there are some real loud bugs out here!)

(sorry if I hijacked the chigger thread!)

Hate to bust your bubble but chiggers and ticks are in cities too.