Community identification
Chigger (Red bug)
Trombiculidae (Larval stage)
- Order & Family
- Order: Trombidiformes, Family: Trombiculidae
- Size
- 0.15 to 0.3 mm (larval stage visible as tiny red dots)
Natural Habitat
Low, damp vegetation, wooded areas, and tall grass
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on skin cells/tissues of animals and humans; adults eat insect eggs and small arthropods
Behavior Patterns
Only the larval stage is parasitic. They attach to a host, inject digestive enzymes to liquefy skin cells, and feed. They fall off after several days.
Risks & Benefits
Cause intense itching and red welts in humans; in certain regions (Asia/Pacific), they can transmit scrub typhus, but in North America they are primarily a nuisance.