Avoid Chiggers in Texas this Spring
The telltale signs of chiggers are groups of little red raised bumps and itchiness. You want to avoid these little buggers at all costs to keep you and your family comfortable this Spring and Summer. These tiny mites bite you and leave a digestive enzyme in your skin. After a couple of hours, you’ll notice those red bites and start to feel the itch.
Summer is the most common time to see chigger bites. This is because they depend on tall grass to reach their victims. Since weeds and grass are tallest in the summer, this is when chiggers are most active. However, you are not free from the threat of chiggers in the springtime and fall. Once the daily temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the female chiggers will lay their eggs. The eggs hatch into hungry larvae who are responsible for the itchy bites. In Texas, with our beautiful warm spring weather, female chiggers can start laying their eggs as soon as March or April. A chigger can lay up to fifteen eggs each day, and on average they live fifty to sixty days.
Even if your lawn was chigger-free in previous years, they may hitch a ride on an animal. They commonly ride on rodents, rabbits, and raccoons to new areas. A chigger infestation can grow exponentially if left unchecked. You can protect your family with long clothing and insect repellent that contains DEET. However, DEET is dangerous for pets, and wearing long clothes in hot humid Texas summers can be uncomfortable. Luckily, a pest control expert can help get your chigger infestation under control.
At Home Run Pest Control, we believe in simple pest control solutions. Keep your family comfortable and itch-free this spring and summer and contact us to find out what we can do about your chigger problems. We offer professional treatments for your lawn and garden that will send chiggers packing.