Chigger

Natural Habitat

Chiggers are typically found in grassy fields, forests, gardens, and other areas with dense vegetation. They thrive in warm, humid conditions.

Diet & Feeding

Only the larval stage of chiggers feeds on vertebrates, including humans, by injecting digestive enzymes that break down skin cells. They do not burrow into the skin to feed, as commonly believed; rather, they form a stylostome (feeding tube) in the host's skin. Adult and nymph chiggers are predatory, feeding on small invertebrates and insect eggs.

Behavior Patterns

Chigger larvae typically wait on vegetation for a host to pass by. Once on a host, they seek out areas where the skin is thin or where clothing creates folds, such as ankles, armpits, and groin. They attach and feed for a few days before dropping off. Their bites cause intensely itchy red welts, often appearing within a few hours to a day after exposure.

Risks & Benefits

Potential Risks: Chigger bites cause severe itching and can lead to secondary bacterial infections if scratched. In some parts of the world (primarily Asia and the Pacific), certain species of chiggers can transmit the bacterial disease scrub typhus. For the image provided, the red mark looks consistent with a localized skin reaction to a chigger bite. Potential Benefits: As adults and nymphs, chiggers can act as predators of small invertebrates, potentially helping to control populations of other insects or mites.

Identified on: 9/12/2025