Chigoe flea (or Jigger)
Scientific Name: Tunga penetrans
Order & Family: Order: Siphonaptera, Family: Tungidae
Size: Before feeding roughly 1mm; after burrowing and engorging with eggs, the female can swell to the size of a pea (up to 10mm).
Natural Habitat
Found in dry, sandy soil, dust in floors of barns, and dirt floors of dwellings primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
Diet & Feeding
The insect feeds on blood. The male feeds and leaves, but the female burrows into the host's skin (usually feet) to feed and produce eggs.
Behavior Patterns
The female burrows into the epidermis, typically under toenails or between toes. Once inside, it remains permanent, breathing through a small opening in the skin while its abdomen grows with eggs before eventually dying and being sloughed off by the host's skin.
Risks & Benefits
Causes tungiasis, which involves intense itching, pain, and inflammation. Can leading to secondary bacterial infections such as gangrene or tetanus if untreated. Seek medical evaluation for removal and treatment.
Identified on: 2/4/2026