Chiggers are bugs so small that you need a magnifying glass to spot them. Scientists call these creatures “trombiculid mites” because theyre from a family of mites called Neotrombicula autumnalis. But they have a bunch of nicknames. In North America, theyre usually called chiggers. In Britain, theyre known as harvest mites. They can also be called berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs, or scrub-itch mites.Â
Chiggers are so small that you probably wont see them. Although youll see (and feel) their itchy bites, they usually dont cause serious harm. (Photo Credit: WebMD Illustration: Dreamstime, Wikimedia Commons).
Chiggers actually arent insects. Theyre “arachnids,” in the same family as spiders and ticks. And while chiggers arent a huge threat to your health, their bites can leave you with a strong urge to scratch.
Adult chiggers dont bite. Its the babies, called larvae, that you have to watch out for.Â
If youre a fan of things that creep and crawl, Â you may find chiggers to be really cool. If not, a close-up picture of a chigger may remind you of something out of a horror movie.Â
Chiggers are no more than 0.3 millimeters long, but zoom in and youll see that theyre hairy and red. (And turn yellow once theyre full.) Once chiggers become adults, they have eight legs, but the young ones that bite you only have six. And while chiggers do have mouth parts that can pierce your skin, these pinchers are short and not very strong. Thats why chiggers bite soft parts of your skin that fold or wrinkle.
You can travel across the globe, but you cant escape these pests. Chiggers live in every country. Their favorite spots are moist, grassy areas like fields, forests, and even your lawn. You can also find them near lakes and streams.
After they hatch from eggs, baby chiggers dont fly very far on their own. They tend to stay clumped together in large groups on leaves and grass, usually less than a foot off the ground, and attach to animals or people as they pass by.
In the U.S., chigger bites are most common in the late spring, summer, and early fall. The bugs are active when the ground temperature is between 77 and 86 F, and they cant survive once it gets colder than 42 F.
Tiny red bugs can be a nuisance in homes and gardens. While some are harmless, others bite and can cause irritation or spread disease. Let’s explore images of some common tiny red bugs and learn how to identify them.
What Are Tiny Red Bugs?
Tiny red bugs are very small insects mites, or arachnids that range in length from 0.01 to 0.35 inches. They can be challenging to spot with the naked eye. Some have oval, tear-drop shaped bodies and six or eight legs. True insects have six legs while arachnids like mites have eight.
While people refer to these creatures as “bugs” only some are true insects. Others are more closely related to spiders and ticks. However their small size and nuisance factor lead most people to call them bugs.
Why Identify Tiny Red Bugs?
Identifying tiny red bugs is important to know if they are harmful. Some red bugs like chiggers and deer ticks bite humans. Others like clover mites don’t bite but can damage plants or stain surfaces.
Proper identification helps you use the right removal methods It also alerts you to take precautions against diseases certain bugs may transmit through bites,
Images to Identify Common Tiny Red Bugs
Here are images and descriptions of some of the most common tiny red bugs you may encounter:
Chiggers
- Size: Up to 0.01 inches
- Appearance: Red, oval-shaped body; six legs
- Bites humans leaving itchy welts
Chiggers, or red berry bugs, are microscopic mites that bite humans.
Clover Mites
- Size: Up to 0.03 inches
- Appearance: Oval, reddish-brown body; eight legs
- Don’t bite but damage plants
Clover mites are tiny reddish bugs that feed on plants and grass.
Red Spider Mites
- Size: Up to 0.016 inches
- Appearance: Red, oval body; eight legs
- Bite plants, sometimes humans
Red spider mites are microscopic pests that damage plant leaves and stems.
Boxelder Bugs
- Size: Up to 0.35 inches
- Appearance: Red and black wings; six legs
- Nymphs are bright red, adults are black and red
Only boxelder bug nymphs are bright red, the adults have black and red wings.
Red Velvet Mites
- Size: Up to 0.12 inches
- Appearance: Oval, red body; eight legs
- Don’t bite humans but prey on other bugs
Red velvet mites are tiny arachnids that hunt other small bugs for food.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Red Bugs
- Clover mites – Seal cracks, trim vegetation, and vacuum
- Chiggers – Shower/launder after outdoors
- Spider mites – Treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap
- Boxelder bugs – Caulk cracks, apply insecticidal soap
- Red velvet mites – Apply insecticidal soap
Identifying tiny red bugs allows you to take steps to remove them. Overall pest-proofing your home, trimming outdoor vegetation, and using natural treatments can help eliminate many tiny red bug infestations. Being able to identify the species through images helps guide your efforts effectively.
Symptoms of Chigger Bites
The clearest sign youve been bitten by a chigger: the itching. A few hours after youve been bitten, youll have an urge to scratch â a lot.
The itching usually lasts for several days and can sometimes keep you awake at night. Aside from tiny red bumps, your skin could also get blisters or a hive-like rash that may take a week or two to heal.
If you get a chigger bite on your penis, you could get a condition known as “summer penile syndrome.” It causes swelling, itching, and trouble peeing. This can last for a few days to a few weeks.
Scratching a chigger bite could break your skin and lead to irritation or an infection.
Chiggers in the U.S. dont spread disease, but they can in other parts of the world. A bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi can be spread from bites of infected chiggers and cause a disease called scrub typhus. It can be life-threatening if not treated with an antibiotic.
Most cases of scrub typhus come from chiggers in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and northern Australia. See a doctor if youve traveled in one of these areas and have any of these symptoms:
- Chigger bites with dark scabs
- Skin rash
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Body aches
- Feeling confused
- Swollen lymph nodes
What Are Chigger Bites?
Once chiggers latch onto your pants or shirt, they crawl around until they find a patch of skin. After they make tiny holes in your skin, they inject saliva (spit) that turns some of your cells into mush.
Why do they do it? To a chigger, those now-liquid cells are food. Once theyre attached to your skin, a chigger may stay there for several days while they feast.
Do chiggers burrow under your skin? Youve probably heard this before, but its just not true. Chiggers have weak mouth muscles. They can latch onto you but cant go deeper than that. This myth likely started because as a chigger bite gets red and bulges, it can start to surround the chigger itself.
What do chigger bites look like?
You may see a line of small red spots or what look like pimples â raised red bumps or pustules (pus-filled bumps). Chigger bites can happen anywhere on your body, but they often show up in clusters around your waist or lower legs.
Tiny red bugs. What are they?
FAQ
Are clover mites harmful to humans?
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Ehrlich Pest Controlhttps://www.jcehrlich.comClover mites: What you need to know – Ehrlich Pest ControlOct 10, 2019 — Clover mites vs bed bugs. Although the two do not have similar appearances, the red stain clover mites leave after they are crushed looks strikingly…
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Croach® Pest Controlhttps://croach.comClover Mites – Croach® Pest ControlFeb 2, 2023 — Can Clover Mites Harm Humans? No, clover mites are not harmful to humans. Though they are from the same family of bugs as spiders and ticks, they do …
How do I get rid of little red dot bugs?
- Clover mite crawling on pine bark. …
- Mowing your grass at three to four inches prevents clover mites. …
- Removing leaf litter from around the house also prevents clover mites. …
- European red mite (Panonychus ulmi) …
- Pruning tree branches close to the house deters clover mites.
What attracts red clover mites?
- Your lawn is brand new.
- You recently added a heavy amount of fertilizer to your lawn or garden.
- Your lawn has an abundance of plants that they like to feast on.
- You have a lot of lush foliage.
How do you get rid of red mites?
- Red spider mites thrive in dry, warm environments. Increasing humidity can disrupt their life cycle and reduce their population.
- Misting plants or placing them in a more humid room can help.
What does a red bug look like?
The tiny red bug has a red or reddish-brown, oval-shaped body and eight legs. An identifying feature of the clover mite is its extended front legs that look like a pair of antennae. The red mites are 0.03” – 0.033” (0.75 – 0.85 mm) long. Clover mites are tiny, almost microscopic red bugs that feed on plants in the yard.
What are red small bugs?
Red small bugs encompass a wide range of species, each with unique behaviors and impacts on their environment. While some are garden allies, others pose threats to plants and crops. Understanding these red small bugs is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and effective pest management.
How big do red bugs get?
Red bugs range in size from 0.01” to 0.35” (0.4 – 9 mm) long. Most red bugs in homes are so tiny you can’t see them with the naked eye. For example, chiggers are red mites that cause the most suffering to humans. However, these little red tick-like nuisances measure 0.01” (0.4 mm).
What bugs have red bodies?
The most common small bugs with red bodies are chiggers and red clover mites. These almost microscopic reddish-brown bugs can be hard to spot. Other red bugs you could find in your home are red spider mites, red scarlet beetles, or black and red boxelder bugs.
Are red bugs on plants a sign of a bug infestation?
Discovering tiny red bugs on plants can signify a bug infestation. Red plant bugs like clover mites and spider mites can be so tiny they are difficult to spot with the naked eye. However, the minuscule, red-bodied mites can be so numerous that they look like pepper on the underside of leaves.
Are nymphs red bugs?
In addition, only the nymphs are bright red, whereas the adults are black and red bugs. Red clover mites, chiggers (berry bugs), scarlet lily beetles, and spider mites are not classified as red insects but creatures in the phylum Arthropoda. However, people refer to them as red bugs because of the nuisance aspect.