Harvest Mite

Posted June 17th, 2009 by IngeP

Hello Everyone

I have just joined as a new member, with a particular quest in mind!

Every summer for the last three years, we have been plagued in summer by the harvest mite (chigger) which render it unusable.

For those not familiar with these bugs; they are virtually invisible to the naked eye. They come out in July and bite all through august september resulting in incredibly itchy red bites like fleabites; it particularly affects my daughter (being small) and pets! They bite all around the soft areas of your skin; ankles, belly, behind knees...Whilst you can dress appropriately (thick cloth, repellent etc) it does not get rid of the actual mite problem.

I thus wondered if anyone knows how to get rid of them? We suspect we either brought them over from our garden in Edinburgh (we lived next to fields where they seem to like living) and although our garden was initially unkempt due to building works in the house we have made extra efforts in the last few years to keep garden tidy, grass short etc... as they seem to like living in high grass and generally undergrowth.

Although we would prefer an organic and non-invasive way to treat the garden, we are ready to try anything! So, if anyone has any suggestions on how to eliminate them?

Anyway; the ever so useful www recommended the use of 'permethrin' but when I went to the garden centre they dont sell that sort of stuff and when I asked a local farmer it sounded like it is rather fearful stuff. Then someone recommended 'extract of chrysantenum' which is how I ended up on the BOG site!

Anyhow, I look forward to hearing your comments! Below are some web comments and links.

Inge

Elimination

Once you have established which area the chiggers have infested, you can treat lawns, fence rows and ornamentals with Permethrin Pro. Use one ounce of concentrate per 1,000 square feet of area to be treated. Use a hose-end sprayer for applying to lawns, fence rows.
This material is safe for use in areas where children, pets and wildlife frequent when applied correctly. Keep people and pets off treated areas until dry. Permethrin Pro will kill chiggers, ants, fleas, ticks and other pests found in lawns. It can also be used indoors for general purpose pest control: roaches, ants, fleas, ticks, spiders, silverfish and other labeled pests.