When Does Chigger Season Start in Texas?
Chiggers, also known as red bugs or harvest mites, are tiny mites that bite and feed on skin. The chigger season in Texas typically starts in early spring, around late March or April, and lasts through late summer into early fall. The peak months for chiggers in most parts of Texas are May, June and July.
What Causes Chiggers to Be Active?
Chiggers become active when temperatures start consistently staying above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They thrive in hot and humid environments. When conditions are right, they emerge from dormancy and start seeking warm-blooded hosts like humans and animals to feed on.
After overwintering as larvae in the soil, the arrival of spring warmth allows chiggers to continue their lifecycle. They go through several nymph stages before maturing into adults who mate and lay eggs. The larvae that hatch then repeat the cycle.
Where Are Chiggers Found in Texas?
Chiggers live in areas with tall grass, weeds and brush. Some common places they inhabit in Texas landscapes include:
- Forests
- Parks
- Fields
- Roadsides
- Creekbeds
- Overgrown lots
When venturing into these types of habitats, you're likely to encounter hungry chiggers waiting for a host to brush up against the vegetation so they can hitch a ride and start feeding.
Do Chiggers in Texas Go Away in Summer?
No, chiggers do not go away during the hot summer months in Texas. In fact, summer is peak season for these tiny pests. The warm weather allows them to be active and achieve their full reproductive cycle.
Chigger populations may start to decline in August and September as temperatures cool down a bit. But they won't completely disappear until the first hard freeze of winter arrives, which halts their development.
What Do Chigger Bites Look Like?
When a chigger latches onto your skin and starts feeding, it injects digestive enzymes that break down skin cells. This causes red, itchy welts to form at the bite site after a few hours. Chigger bites resemble other insect bites, but they tend to be more noticeably irritating.
Differences from Mosquito and Flea Bites
Compared to mosquito bites, chigger bites are usually slower to appear and longer lasting in duration. The severe itchiness can persist for up to two weeks if left untreated. Flea bites tend to be more immediately noticeable, sometimes even feeling the initial bite, whereas chiggers usually take 3-6 hours before bites become apparent.
Common Locations on the Body
Chiggers often bite in concealed areas around the waist and legs. Common bite sites include:
- Ankles
- Feet
- Back of knees
- Groin
- Waistline
These areas are prime targets because that's where clothing fits snuggly against the skin, allowing easy access for chiggers to attach.
Appearance of Bites
At first, chigger bites simply resemble minor red dots on the skin that are slightly raised. But within a day, they can transform into larger welts up to an inch across that look like blisters or hives.
The middle of the welt often remains reddish while the outer edges appear whitish or clear as the reaction spreads outward. As the bite heals over the next week or two, it will gradually fade back to normal skin.
Signs Your Itchy Bites Are from Chiggers
Wondering if your bothersome bite is caused by chiggers or something else? Here are key signs and symptoms to help identify chigger bites:
Intense Itchiness
The most telltale marker of chigger bites is severe itching that seems out of proportion to the size of the bite. The welts can intensely itch for up to two weeks without relief. Unlike mosquito bites, the severity doesn’t fade after a day or two.
Delayed Onset
You probably won't notice chigger bites until several hours after initial exposure. You may not recall anything biting you. Then suddenly intense itchy welts seem to appear out of nowhere, often while sleeping overnight.
Clustered Groupings
Chigger bites typically show up in local concentrated groups of two to three bites. Or sometimes dozens of bites grouped together in one body region. This reflects their feeding behavior of attaching close together.
Common Infestation Areas
Pay attention to WHERE the mysterious bites first popped up. Chiggers favor bite sites like the lower legs, ankles, waistline and back of knees because of snug clothing. So bites clustered in those zones likely means chiggers fed there.
What to Do About Chigger Bites
Chigger bites can cause miserable irritation long after the mites themselves are gone. Here is what you can do to ease the itching and promote healing of bites:
Hot Showers
Taking hot showers or baths can temporarily relieve itchiness. The heat helps denature the proteins in the chigger saliva causing irritation. However it won't eradicate bites completely.
Topical Steroids
Applying over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream containing 1% steroid can help control inflammation and itchiness from chigger bites. It works best when applied promptly at first onset of bites.
Anti-itch Medications
Oral antihistamines like Benadryl or topical anti-itch gels containing pramoxine can numb and soothe irritated skin from chigger bites. This reduces the urge to scratch for several hours of relief.
Avoid Scratching
Scratching chigger bites can damage skin, increase swelling, risk infection, and further intensify itching. Apply anti-itch treatments promptly before urge becomes too difficult to resist scratching.
How to Avoid Chigger Bites in Texas
Your best line of defense against chiggers is avoiding exposure in the first place when venturing outside during chigger season. Here are some tips to prevent bites:
Use Insect Repellent
Spraying exposed skin and clothing with DEET or permethrin can deter chiggers from latching on for up to several hours. Reapply frequently for ongoing protection.
Wear Protective Clothing
Wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes when entering wooded, brushy areas. This creates protective fabric barriers against chiggers.
Shower and Wash Clothes
Shower as soon as possible after returning indoors to wash off any unseen chiggers. Also immediately place clothing into hot, soapy water to kill any remaining mites.
Avoid Sitting on Ground
Sitting directly on grass or soil easily allows ground-dwelling chiggers to crawl onto you. Bring folding stool or blanket if taking a break outside.
Apply Permethrin to Clothes
Pretreating clothing with the long-lasting repellent permethrin provides extra assurance. It binds tightly to fabric and resists multiple washings.