Chiggers are tiny parasitic mites of the family trombiculidae. They are so small that they only measure 1/150 of an inch. Chiggers are mainly red, but can be orange or yellow. During the summer months, chiggers are prevalent. They survive by attaching themselves to a host and feasting on a meal of blood. When chiggers get their meal from people, red welts appear and itching may become severe. Eliminating the pesky mites can be done quickly.
Instructions
1. Check to see if you have chiggers in your yard. Place a piece of white posterboard in your yard. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, chiggers love new objects. They will quickly make their way to the posterboard where you can observe them with a magnifying glass.
2. Eliminate the chiggers in your yard by making the habitat undesirable. Mow the grass, remove piles of leaves and clear away any clutter that would give the chiggers a place to hide.
3. Eliminate any chiggers on your body by scratching them off. You may not know you have chiggers until after they begin biting you, but chiggers die when they have been scratched off the skin.
4. Take a hot soapy shower or bath as soon as you come inside. Scrub your body to remove any remaining chiggers. This includes chiggers that are still crawling around, and the chiggers that were feasting on your blood.
5. Eliminate the chiggers on your clothing by washing them in your washing machine. Use hot water and laundry detergent. Chiggers are so small you can't see them with your naked eye, so you may still have chiggers on your clothing, and those chiggers will bite you the next time you put the clothing on if you don't kill them.
Tags: chiggers your, Eliminate chiggers your, have chiggers, your yard, chiggers that, chiggers your clothing