I need to buy shares in a band-aid company
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325648)
Rockingham, Australia
March 18, 2019 7:25pm CST
The photo has nothing to do with the post but shows the area used for camping at the recent Country Music Festival we attended.
I’d never heard of chiggers till perhaps twelve months ago. In case you haven’t heard of them either…. read on and all will be revealed.
Chiggers are microscopic mites that have a variety of names and occur in all countries. They belong to the same family as spiders and ticks. Scientists call them ‘trombiculid mites’. Common people (!) might call them harvest mites/bugs/lice, mowers mites or red bugs. It’s the larvae that bite. They tend to stay in group in leaves and grass, and attach themselves to animals or people as they pass by.
When we were setting up for the outdoor concert I wore shorts and a tank top. A few days before the concert I began to have severe itching over my shoulders and neck in particular. We’ve had the odd bite before but the rotten chiggers did a real number on me this time. The bites itch like crazy then begin to weep and continue weeping for days.
I have now had these bites over a week. I have over 20 band-aids over my body, shoulders, neck and legs. The itching was driving me crazy for several days and I was taking an anti-histamine regularly. I think I’ll be buying shares in a band-aid company.
40 people like this
41 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Mar 19
OMG! I have had them so many times. Usually around the bands of my underwear and bra.To kill them in your skin put a dab of bleach on each bite, I have also killed them with fingernail polish on each bite. Although the bite is still there it will itch less.
I have scars from them nasty basta^ds.
8 people like this
@florelway (23095)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
19 Mar 19
Oh, it's the first time I hear that of nail polish and bleach, thanks for sharing.
5 people like this
@florelway (23095)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
19 Mar 19
Hope you don't look like mummy.
4 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
19 Mar 19
So far no chiggers....but black flies are the bane of the north. Just about the time the weather is great for being outside....these Nast critters appear and they bite chunks out of you....at the hairline....in your ears.....ankles, wrists....
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Mar 19
Chiggers are sort of like noseeums.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
@JohnRoberts That's what these are. You can't see them. The two dots I did see could have been ticks. I was reading it as 'nose eums' but it's 'no see ums' isn't it? That's very clever. Love it!! 
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Mar 19
@JudyEv That's the nickname for insects so small you can't see but bite the heck out of you. Noseeums are mainly in the American south like Florida.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
19 Mar 19
Have you tried Lacto Calamine. It is recommended for skin itching and other skin issues
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95082)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Mar 19
That is not funny at all but I did have to giggle at the mind picture of 20 band-aids. Sorry 
Hope you get them healed up soon. I have not had them too much thankfully. My problem is usually poison ivy.
Hope you get them healed up soon. I have not had them too much thankfully. My problem is usually poison ivy.2 people like this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
It's okay to giggle. I honestly have them everywhere. 
We don't have poison ivy here luckily.
We don't have poison ivy here luckily.
@RasmaSandra (73368)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Mar 19
OMG how I hate getting nasty bugger bites. Never had problems with these. I sure hope you can get rid of that itching soon. We had a talk here about our cats in their rooftop world and what they might come in contact with and then bring inside to us. So now both Sid and Oreo are wearing collars against ticks and fleas and what not.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
Last time I went down I wore long trousers, long sleeves and shoes and socks.
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Mar 19
@JudyEv - Oh, yes. I have heard of chiggers. I grew up in Missouri and they were a huge problem as a child. I'm sorry to had that experience!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Mar 19
@JudyEv - I did not realize they were around in Australia, too. In the Midwestern US, they are very annoying. We ran across something similar when we traveled in Mexico. They were called "no-see-ims," as in something you feel, but do not see. I'm not sure if they were the same as chiggers, but they were just as annoying.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
@DeborahDiane They sound the same as these are microscopic. I don't understand why I've never met anyone that mentioned them but then again, I guess you wouldn't normally say anything and perhaps not everyone reacts the same way.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
19 Mar 19
Are there no repellants to prevent its attack? Be careful.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
I need to wear long trousers and long sleeves. That would stop a lot of the attacks. And have a hot shower when I finish whatever I'm doing outside.
@kobesbuddy (74528)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Mar 19
These are terrible microscopic mites! I've had them before and it seems like those bites will never leave:( Sorry you had this happen, Judy:(
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Mar 19
@kobesbuddy Our son used to react badly to flea-bites.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74528)
• East Tawas, Michigan
21 Mar 19
@JudyEv I've had flea bites and they take weeks to go away!
1 person likes this
You're right - I've never heard of them. But eek - I hate those bug bites that end up itching so badly - for me it's usually mosquitos in hot weather.
@Marilynda1225 (79677)
• United States
20 Mar 19
I've never heard of chiggers but it sounds like they feasted on you.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79677)
• United States
21 Mar 19
@JudyEv probably similar to mosquitoes here
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 19
@Marilynda1225 The repercussions last much longer though.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
20 Mar 19
Well also buy a few shares in a bug spray company--wouldn't that prevent these little beasts from attack? Haven't heard ot them till now- the black fliea and mosquitos are popular enough. lol!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
26 Mar 19
@JudyEv I do not like sneak attack bugs at all. Hope your bites get better.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
19 Mar 19
Oh nooo! I feel badly for you because I've had terrible allergic reactions to chigger bites a few times. I didn't know to take antihistamine. 
It's been several years since my last ordeal.
It's been several years since my last ordeal.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
@BloggerDi I can believe it. I didn't find it very funny either.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
19 Mar 19
@JudyEv Yes. I thought I was losing my mind! LOL (Wasn't laughing then!)
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
19 Mar 19
Oh! That sounds awful. I hope you are little better with all antihistamines. They are really notorious ones.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
21 Mar 19
@JudyEv Good that it is improving. Hope it gets better soon. 
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
19 Mar 19
Chiggers are NOT fun. I hope the evidence disappears quickly!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
They are taking forever to stop itching. I just find it amazing that I'd never heard of them before.
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
19 Mar 19
@JudyEv I am fortunate that my only encounters with them have been literary or anecdotal!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 19
@SophiaMorros Long may it stay that way!!
1 person likes this
