clarakatalin

I Need Your Thoughts About Chiggers

Until two years ago, I lived in a chigger-free part of California and never encountered them. I lived all of 66 and a half years in that same area. Then we decided to move to the Midwest. All was well in the garden until one day I developed a couple dozen itchy red spots on my skin.

If you know nothing about chiggers, here’s a tiny introduction:
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef630

At any rate, I would love to get people’s thoughts on how you have dealt (or not dealt) with chiggers: preventing, eradicating, and/or dealing with the bites.

Below is my brainstorming. I would love your comments, corrections, and what has worked for you. At this point I’m not judging any solution, but I would prefer non-chemical treatments.

1. Change the environment. Reduce shady, damp areas, including areas of tall grass. Keep grass short. Trim trees to remove low growth. Not sure what to do with shrubs, or even if they’re a problem. Improve drainage to reduce constantly-damp areas. Put gravel or cement anywhere near the house where it’s never sunny and might stay damp.
2. Are crowded areas of flowers or shrubs a breeding ground?
3. Blowtorch everywhere. Ha, ha.
4. Spread diatomaceous earth in damp areas.
5. Use lemongrass-type bug spray before going in the garden.
6. Apply appropriate Wondercide or Cedarcide products to the environment or oneself.
7. Use pesticides such as carbaryl, bifenthrin or permethrin, after finding chigger hot spots. See https://www.gardenguides.com/info_12320823_pesticide-kills-chiggers.html .
8. Be sure to shower and change clothes after garden work.
9. Caladryl works for me, once I’ve gotten the bites. I have heard that Corn Husker’s Lotion also works.
10. Rebuke the chigger demons.

Look forward to your ideas!