Regularly prune your trees, bushes, and other shrubs to lower the humidity around those plants and allow more sunlight to filter in. These measures reduce the shade and moisture chiggers thrive in. They particularly dislike dry, sunny areas with good air circulation. Continue these practices year-round. Dormant chiggers will return once the weather warms up.
Remove sources of water that invite reptiles and amphibians. Cut back dense foliage or shrubbery to discourage small mammals that use these areas as convenient hiding places. Secure the lids of your trash cans and set up fencing around the perimeter of your garden or yard.
Pick out hot spots by propping up small squares of black cardboard around your yard, especially in damp, shady areas with thicker vegetation. After 15-30 minutes, check for tiny yellow or pink specks on the cardboard—these are chigger larvae! Alternatively, place small dishes of water in the same strategic locations. The larvae should be attracted to the elevated humidity. Keep track of the hot spots you identify for targeted treatment.
This is a natural product made up of the fossils of small creatures called diatoms. It comes in the form of a fine white or off-white powder. Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your yard and over any areas that may offer ideal conditions for chiggers to live in. Focus on tall grass, weeds, and briars. If a chigger ingests any of the diatomaceous earth, it will die of dehydration. The sharp granules may also cut into and kill any chiggers that crawl over it.
Follow the label instructions concerning application safety. Wear protective clothing to prevent insecticides from coming into contact with your skin or eyes as you apply them. Retreat the area 2 to 3 weeks later if you have a large number of chiggers infesting your yard. Liquid spray insecticides are generally more effective against chiggers than granular insecticides. If selecting a granular insecticide, however, choose one containing bifenthrin.
For instance, the exterminator may use propoxur, cyfluthrin, or fluvalinate to get rid of chiggers. Stay off treated areas until dry. Prevent children and pets from walking over treated areas for as long as recommended by the exterminator. Even with these stronger chemicals, you may need to retreat the area after 2 or 3 weeks if the infestation is heavy enough.
To the same end, you can also brush off your clothes to help remove chiggers from your garments. Use a towel or soft bristled brush.
To ensure extermination, you should lather, rinse, and repeat several times during the shower. The water must also be very warm to hot, not lukewarm. Vigorously scrub your skin with a washcloth to dislodge any chiggers that may have attached themselves.
After washing your clothes, dry them in a drying machine or in the sunlight. Do not wear chigger-infested clothes before washing them. Do not wash the clothes in cool water, since this may not kill the chiggers.
Don’t scratch the bites, no matter how much they itch! If you do, you may break the skin and cause an infection. If you feel warmth in the area or see a discharge coming from the bite, contact your doctor.
Opt for tightly-woven fabrics over airy, loosely-woven ones. Chiggers are small enough to find their way in between the gaps present between threads of loosely-woven fabrics, but they will have a significantly harder time finding their way through clothes with smaller gaps.
Tuck your socks into your pants or your pant legs into your socks, sealing off the gap of skin between them. Tuck your shirt into your pants. Chiggers like to nibble on areas with thinner skin, such as the genitals—ouch! If venturing into tall grass or weeds, tie off your sleeves around the wrists with rubber bands or ribbon. When possible, wear clothes with zippers rather than buttons.
For even better protection, consider sprinkling a light dusting of sulfur powder over the inside of your shirt and pants. Note that sulfur powder has a potent odor, which may make it a less than ideal solution if you have a particularly sensitive sense of smell. There’s also not much reliable evidence to prove that this method really works.
DEET treatments can last for 2 to 3 hours. You’ll have to reapply it after that. Do not spray DEET repellents near your mouth or eyes. Do not spray DEET repellents on skin covered by clothing, as doing so may cause skin irritation. Follow the label directions carefully. Some repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted or varnished surfaces.
Permethrin repellents can last for several days after application and remain on your clothes after being washed once or twice. In fact, you may want to treat your clothes the day before you wear them. Apply the repellent to both sides of your clothing, focusing on openings like cuffs, necks, and waistbands. Let the repellent dry completely before putting the clothes on. Follow the label directions carefully as you apply the repellent. As with DEET repellents, some permethrin repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted or varnished surfaces.
Steer clear of unmowed fields and walk in the center of mowed trails to avoid accidentally brushing up against taller vegetation. Chiggers need well-hidden vegetation that offers plenty of shade and moisture in order to thrive. Tall vegetation provides the perfect chigger environment.
