The Truth About Chiggers: What They Are and How to Keep Them Out of Your Yard

If you’ve ever walked through your yard and ended up covered in itchy red bumps, you might have blamed “chiggers.” And while most people have heard of them, very few actually understand what they are — or how to get rid of them.

Let’s break down the facts, bust the myths, and talk about how to keep your yard chigger-free.

So... What Are Chiggers, Really?

Chiggers aren’t a specific type of bug — they’re a life stage of a certain type of mite.

Specifically, they’re the larval form of mites from the Trombiculidae family. They’re incredibly small — so small that you likely won’t even see them — and they only bite during this early stage of life. Once they mature into adults, they no longer feed on people or animals. In fact, adult chiggers are totally harmless to humans.

So those itchy bites? You’re only on their menu for a short time — and only once in their lifetime.

Do They Burrow Into Your Skin?

This one’s a popular myth. You’ve probably heard someone say chiggers burrow into your skin and live there for days. Not true.

What really happens is this: the larval mite attaches to your skin, then uses its mouthparts to inject an enzyme that breaks down skin cells. It doesn’t suck blood — it feeds on liquefied tissue. Your body reacts to that enzyme with intense irritation, which is what causes the red bumps and itching.

They don’t burrow. They don’t lay eggs inside you. And they’re not still crawling around after you’ve come back inside.

Why Yard Sprays Sometimes Don’t Work

Not all sprays are created equal.

Many common yard sprays are broad-spectrum insecticides designed to kill pests like ants, ticks, and mosquitoes — but not mites. And since chiggers are mites, you’ll need a specific product called a miticide to effectively target them.

At Bug Zone, our yard treatments include professional-grade miticide that’s proven to work against mites in all life stages — including those pesky larval chiggers.

Where Chiggers Hide

Chiggers love damp, shady areas with dense vegetation. Think:

• Along fence lines

• Near woodpiles or compost

• In tall grass and weeds

• Around thick mulch beds

• In leaf litter and overgrown landscaping

Basically, anywhere that’s undisturbed and humid.

How to Keep Chiggers Away

You can reduce your risk of chiggers by making your yard less inviting:

• Mow the lawn regularly. Chiggers love tall grass.

• Trim shrubs and trees. Less shade = fewer mites.

• Clean up yard debris. Remove leaf litter, wood piles, and thick mulch.

• Avoid overwatering. Soggy lawns are mite magnets. Your yard only needs about 1 inch of water per week (including rain).

And when you’re outside, wear long pants and socks — especially if you’re walking through tall grass or brush.

Bug Zone Has Your Back

Chiggers might be tiny, but the bites and itching they cause are no joke. You don’t have to suffer through summer with bug spray and long pants.

Bug Zone uses targeted miticide treatments that knock out chiggers where they live — before they ever bite.

Want your yard back? Call Bug Zone today and let’s get rid of those invisible biters for good.