Do you live in chigger country?

Andy Nonymous · #61 06/27/14, 10:03 AM

Chiggers? O_O We must be living in the proximity of Eden, because in all my years of tramping through tall grass around here (working fence, moving critters, making hay), even before we kept poultry, I've never had anything I could attribute as a chigger bite. Skeeters? Some, but if you're out in the open, and up on the hill (as we are) where the wind is pretty good most days, they aren't a problem, even as swampy as it is in the neighbourhood. Gnats? Some here, but not nearly as bad as most other places I've been. No-see-ums? This is the first year in about 20 they've been a bother, but their season is about 2 weeks and then they more or less just disappear. Deer flies we have, but mostly only at the field edges and in the woods, and a ball cap is usually enough to keep them off my head (and gives me something to swat at them with). Taking a moment to just stand still near a tree usually gives them the slip.

Haven't used any sort of 'bug spray' in years. That is unless you count spraying yelowjacket nests in the barn with something 'low tox', like engine starting fluid aka ether (it super chills them as it evaporates = death by hypothermia). A two second squirt is usually plenty - enough to start a cold V8. In a pinch I've used brake cleaner. Either are far cheaper than "raid", and dissipate far faster leaving no toxic residue, though I'm not sure which is less dangerous if you consider the flammability factor. Yellowjacket nests outside get hit with the propane weed burner.

There are remedies for what 'bugs' you. I'd start with eating more garlic, rub down often (as Naturelover does) and putting chickens and/or guineas out there.

ErinP · #62 06/27/14, 10:23 AM

What a thread to resurrect. lol

I grew up in chigger-land, but as an adult moved into the semi-arid country of the high plains. It's not wet enough here to keep chiggers happy.
I can't tell you how NICE it is to be able to sit in the park grass, with shorts on even!, and not have to worry about getting eaten alive. lol

mnn2501 · #63 06/27/14, 01:52 PM

When I was a kid, Mom always used Calamine lotion for Chigger bites, took care of them almost immediately as I remember (but then its been 50 years since I was a kid)

big rockpile · #64 06/28/14, 07:01 PM

Chiggers I always figured they were part of it. Here Chiggers, Ticks, one put me in the Hospital last year, still dealing with it. Mosquitoes Guy just died of West Nile Virus in our county. We have Hornets that like to build nest about Head high in brush, oh they are so fun. Yellow Jackets, nest in the ground, always exciting. Other bugs, Brown Recluse, Black Widow. Then there is the Serpents like Copper Heads, Rattlers and Water Mossicans.

Ok I'm not leaving the house. LOL

big rockpile

Tricky Grama · #65 06/29/14, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozarks Tom

Put sulfur powder in an old sock, and dust your ankles and belt line, they hate the stuff. We keep a sock in the garage, and dust when we know we're going near tall grass or into the woods.

This is it. The very best deterrent.
However, chiggers are in the grass, I think what you-the op- are describing is gnats. I'm pretty susr chiggers don't fly.

Freya · #66 06/29/14, 08:03 PM

OP... did you find a solution or decide not to move there?

JoePa · #67 06/30/14, 09:01 AM

Yes - garlic is the answer - I have a brother in law that eats the stuff like candy - he smells like a clove of garlic - I don't know how my sister stands the guy - well anyway - he never gets bit by any bug - one day he stopped by my place - he was in his car - he opens the window and the whole car smelled like garlic - so yes - if you can get past the smell - eat a lot of garlic and you won't get bit my anything - oh - he goes out into the fields without even a t- shirt -

collegeboundgal · #68 06/30/14, 09:10 PM

I'm weird. We do a lot of fencing on my place so have lots of TALL weeds since there is nothing to eat them down. (Did get it brush hogged off eventually) but my solution has been to wear shorts and flipflops and spray a little off on me, but the key thing is to take a shower every 4 hrs or so. Not a full, wash the hair shower, but enough to soap up the body and rinse off. Takes maybe 10 mins at most, and it helps cool me off when we're working in the heat. We use a 4 wheeler so running up to my moms house ( I bought my parents place) is no big deal. She keeps bath stuff their for me and other guests.squirt some more off on and off I go. My hubby still refuses to use the shower and has the bites to prove it! Stubborn!

Chinkapin · #69 06/30/14, 11:00 PM

Chiggers, we call'em Red bugs. They seem to be seasonal here, mostly in June. Could be the summer heat they don't like because as the summer gets hotter they go away.. Worse in wet years.

debd0712 · #70 07/01/14, 08:19 PM

Guineas have solved the problem for me on my property. If I visit elsewhere and get chigger bites I have found that Absorbine works very well to control the itching. I carry Absorbine Jr with me when I am away from home, but have found that the full strength Absorbine (horse liniment) works better.

TNbear23 · #71 07/02/14, 05:17 PM

I've heard about chiggers as I was growing up but never experienced them until this week Oh My God!! We are at our property working and I start itching like crazy in one spot, needless to say I have more bites than I care to count. Anti itch cream is my friend right now. I have learned and will definitely take all steps needed to insure I don't get bite again. This was a painful and annoying lesson. But on the upside ticks don't seem to like me.