Chigger Trombicula alfreddugesi
Identification
This mite is tiny red larval stage of harvest mites.
Location
Common statewide
Size
Microscopic
Diet
It feeds on skin cells and fluids.
Habitat
It occurs in tall grass and brush.
Activity Period
May to September
Behavior
It attaches to skin and causes itching. It is active in warm months.
Lifecycle
Breeding occurs in soil.
Population
The population is stable statewide.
History
It has long been widespread in Ohio.
Human Interactions
It may cause skin irritation.
Facts
Adults are harmless and live in soil.
Sources
ODNR NatureServe
Skin cells fluids | Grass fields forests edges | Statewide