Any pest that feeds on human blood may be considered dangerous. From mosquitoes to ticks to the humble flea, there's no telling where or how your Houston pest vectors could strike next. However, your next few bites may come from an unlikely source this season - chiggers. If you happen to have a residential or commercial property anywhere in Texas, you probably are familiar with pests known as chiggers. If you have never heard of or seen a chigger in action, consider these pests to be the larval stage of a mite. These larvae must consistently feed on the cellular tissue of living beings, leaving behind nasty bites in their wake.
Mites are extremely small pests and are not always visible to the naked eye. Adult clover mites are often confused with chiggers, but you can easily see them. In contrast, you cannot see larvae harvest mites without high-powered magnification equipment.
Just what do chiggers look like under a microscope? These insects have:
- Six legs
- Feathered antennae
- Small red bodies
Chiggers prefer to remain in cool, vegetative habitats with plenty of moisture and shade. Lush lawns, golf courses, and other areas are often hot spots for them. Chiggers move from place to place by coming into contact with human skin, where they then embed themselves for three days or less. No home in Houston should ever have to struggle with potential chigger infestations. Here's how to quickly and easily identify a problem before it develops into an infestation.
How To Identify A Potential Chigger Problem
Since you cannot see, hear, or otherwise identify chiggers with our other senses, you can only detect chigger infestations from the nasty bites they leave behind. These bites may cause:
- Red welts or lesions
- Immune responses
- Allergic reactions
- Secondary infections from bacteria
- Scratching and bleeding
Due to their unusual appearance and sometimes misleading characteristics, chigger bites are sometimes confused with scabies rashes. Scabies are also caused by mites, although it is a much different affliction than chigger bites. Bear in mind that scabies infections are contagious, while rashes and bumps left behind by chigger bites are not. If you think you have been bitten by a mite or chigger, please seek medical attention.
If you are concerned about your potential for a chigger infestation, try following these helpful steps:
- Keep the grass cut short and trim back any vegetation near the house.
- Thoroughly wash and scrub yourself after mowing the grass, raking leaves, or performing other yard work.
- Use repellent sprays on boots, socks, and external clothing to help repel chiggers that may find their way onto you.
These tips will go a long way towards protecting your family from the presence of chiggers. However, it may not always be enough. If your current chigger populations are swelling out of control, you may need to pivot towards professional pest control services in Houston.
All-Safe Pest & Termite Can Protect Your Home From Chiggers
Chiggers are dangerous vectors of itchy bites, some of which may turn into secondary infections. In rare cases, these insects may spread diseases and allergic reactions throughout your entire family. The best protection method against chiggers and their bites is to contact the professional control team at All-Safe Pest & Termite. After years of experience working with some of Houston's most dangerous pests, we have everything it takes to control chiggers and mites and their negative effects.
Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite today for more advice or assistance related to chiggers. Secure your place on our residential pest control roster by filling out an online contact form.