Chigger mites annoy other animals all over the world with their irritating bite, which causes a rash of scratching. The larvae of these parasites feed on an animal's skin, and cause severe irritation by injecting toxins that help digest a victim's cells. These microscopic creatures like to prey on furry animals, but human ankles are also a favorite target. In Asia, the mites are known to spread deadly diseases.
Mini Fangs: These creatures are tiny, but they come equipped with incredibly sharp jaws. Chigger mites have tiny fangs that they hook into a host's skin so they can hang on while feeding on their victims' flesh.
Gasser: Chigger mite larvae can sense the carbon dioxide that animals exhale, and will climb a tall blade of grass when they detect the gas in the air. These creatures can't jump but will cling fast to any animal that brushes by.
Liquid Lunch[]
Red bumps on the skin show where chiggers have been feeding.
Chigger mite larvae latch onto hosts by the dozens. On people, they usually hook their claws on victims' socks and then nestle into the bare skin underneath. Once in, these parasites secrete a mild venom that liquefies the hosts skin cells, then they slurp it up. The venom makes the hosts' skin swell into a red bump and itch like crazy. Soon after the mites begin to feed, the victim is covered with itchy bumps where the mites have settled to feed.
Danger Zone: These parasites usually just irritate their hosts, but can cause more sever [sic] damage. Some mites transmit diseases through their saliva. Livestock and even people have died from fevers caused by chigger mites in Asia.
Grown Ups: Chigger mites turn into adults after a few days of feeding, then drop off their hosts and leave their parasitic lifestyle behind. Fully-grown chiggers dig through the soil, feeding only on plant matter.
Scratch That[]
- Searching for a good feeding spot on a human host, a chigger mite larva finds soft skin around a hair follicle. The parasite slides its long snout into the pore, through which it injects its venom that liquefies the skin around it.
- Several other mite larvae settle around the same area, and feed continuously for a few days. The victim develops rash-like red bumps around his ankle, where the mites have been feeding; the skin will stay irritated for up to two weeks.
Trivia[]
- In the "Danger Zone" section, 'severe' is misspelled as 'sever'.
- The chigger mite is featured in Odd Creature Out on Monster Mania 44.