Dealing With Chiggers? How to Remove Them From Your Yard for Good

If you’ve ever been bitten, just hearing the word chigger is enough to cause a mighty itch. These tiny insects are a summertime nuisance that prey on people, pets, and wildlife, including birds, leaving behind an aggravating itch that can last for more than a week.

Find out how to get rid of chiggers and keep them out of your outdoor space.

What Are Chiggers and Why Are They a Problem?

Chiggers are a species of mite with larvae that parasite on humans and animals. Most prevalent in the southeastern United States, the tiny bugs are found as far north as Maine and as far west as Texas.

They thrive in moist habitats, primarily meadows, fields, and woodland edges where tall grass grows. They also take up residence on your lawn.

Larvae are similar to adults with a couple of differences. They are yellowish red with six legs, while adults are bright red with eight legs. You’re not likely to see either since adults are 1/20- to 1/64-inch long and larvae are just 1/100 of an inch in diameter. Larvae are the only parasitic life stage. Nymphs and adults do not bite. What causes the aggravating itch is an enzyme chiggers release when they latch on.

Chigger season can last from spring until autumn depending on temperatures in your region. The larvae hatch continuously every five to seven days once the ground warms to about 75°F. They climb tall grasses or other vegetation and wait for a host, then latch on and feed for several days before dropping off.

In other countries chiggers are a vector for disease and bites can become serious in rare instances.

More common in the United States is localized irritation or infection caused by constantly scratching the itch that starts around three hours after being bitten. It can continue for several days up to several weeks.

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Natural Methods to Eliminate Chiggers from Your Yard

Chiggers are drawn to moist areas and most active during afternoon hours. They avoid hot objects like rock or concrete that reach 99°F and become inactive when the mercury drops to 60°F.

Larvae do not survive temperatures of 42°F. But if chiggers are active in your yard, don’t wait for them to die off. Here’s how to get rid of them safely.

• Mow regularly: Short grass inhibits chiggers from transferring onto hosts.
• Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle dust on lawn, underneath hedges, in vegetable gardens, and other areas of dense vegetation. Chiggers are soft bodied and are vulnerable to sharp microscopic material in diatomaceous earth.
• Discourage wildlife: Chiggers prey on animals and birds. Take down bird feeders, empty water features, add fencing or other wildlife barriers, and prevent access to garbage bins.
• Remove debris: Collect and remove leaves and other yard debris.
• Vinegar and water: Chiggers can be repelled by the scent. Spray high-traffic areas and around patios, play equipment, pools, and decks.
• Essential Oils: Eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and tea tree oils repel chiggers. Treat suspect areas.

7 Ways to Prevent Chiggers From Coming Back

Preventing them from taking up residence in your yard is the most effective way to avoid chigger bites and you can do this by making your property less attractive as a habitat. Here are seven steps to take.

• Maintain lawns: Mow turfgrass short and keep a regular lawn maintenance schedule of watering and fertilizing to avoid weedy patches and dense, moist areas.
• Avoid overwatering: Turn off sprinkler timers to avoid overwatering.
• Trim vegetation: Keep hedges and areas of dense growth pruned and cut back.
• Improve drainage: Take steps to prevent standing water around your property.
• Plant repellent flowers and herbs: Chiggers avoid strongly scented flowers and herbs like marigolds, lavender, mints, sage and garlic.
• Apply permethrin: Spray lawns and areas attractive to chiggers with a permethrin based pesticide.
• Contact a pest control expert: Licensed professionals can advise you and treat your lawn proactively to prevent chiggers from settling in.

FAQ

• Recommendations are to keep children and pets off chemically treated areas for 24 to 48 hours. This can differ depending on the pesticide. Carefully read labels and follow all directions and precautions for the product you intend to use.

• Adult chiggers generally live about two months with females laying 100 to 200 eggs during that time. Eggs hatch every five to seven days until temperatures drop to 42°F.