Midges vs. Chigger Bites: Identification, Prevention, and Treatment
During your outdoor spring adventures, you may notice an uptick in bug bites and wonder which critters are responsible. Midges — particularly biting midges, commonly known as no-see-ums — and chiggers are two of the biggest culprits.
Are chiggers and no-see-ums the same? While midges and chiggers might appear similar, certain differences in their bites and activities set the two apart. You need to know how each insect behaves in order to identify which bites you’re battling.
Take a closer look at how midge and chigger bites differ and how to avoid them using tried-and-true prevention methods like permethrin-treated clothing.
Understanding Midges (No-See-Ums) and Chiggers
No-see-ums and chiggers may be two different insects, but it’s easy to mistake them for each other, thanks to their preferences for biting the same body parts. Here’s what you need to know about no-see-ums vs. chiggers.
Midges (No-See-Ums)
Midges are small flying insects that belong to the Ceratopogonidae family. 'No-see-ums' specifically refers to several species within the biting midge family.
They are most commonly found near bodies of water. Think lakes, rivers, and marshy areas.
In particular, female midges feed on human blood to obtain protein for egg development. They’re most active during dawn and dusk, but can also bite throughout the day under cloudy, humid, or calm conditions.
Midges lay eggs on moist surfaces. The larvae must develop in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments. Like other insects, the midge life cycle goes from egg to larva to pupa to adult in complete metamorphosis.
Chiggers
On the other hand, chiggers are very young, larval-stage mites that belong to the Trombiculidae family. They eventually mature into berry bugs or “bush mites.”
These critters like to frequent grassy fields, forests, and areas with dense vegetation. If you’ve ever been on a picnic or visited a state park, chances are you’ve come close to chiggers.
Chiggers are larvae that develop through incomplete metamorphosis, transitioning from egg to larva, then to nymph, and finally to adult mite without a pupal stage. One notable difference between chiggers and no-see-ums is that chiggers don’t feast on your blood.
Instead, chiggers attach to hosts, humans or animals, to feed on skin cells. They don’t actually burrow into your skin, but they do inject enzymes into your skin’s surface to liquefy your skin tissue for consumption.
Mature mites lay their eggs in soil. After larvae are born, they begin seeking out hosts for feeding. Once chiggers have fed, the larvae drop off to develop into nymphs and then adults.
Appearance and Symptoms of Bites
You can tell the difference between chiggers and midges primarily by their bites. To know whether you’re dealing with no-see-um bites vs. chigger bites, keep an eye out for these key distinctions.
Midge (No-See-Um) Bites
Bites from no-see-ums are small, red, itchy bumps typically grouped in clusters, often causing immediate sharp pain or a burning sensation.
Midge bites tend to cluster around exposed skin areas like the neck, face, arms, and legs. This is especially true when people are wearing popular warm-weather attire, like shorts and T-shirts.
No-see-um bites cause immediate pain with a burning sensation, and the intense itching associated with them can last for days at a time. In extreme cases, bites from midges cause welts and blisters to develop.
Chigger Bites
Chigger bites appear as red pimple-like bumps or hives, often marked by a bright red central dot, which indicates the feeding site (stylostome) formed by the injected enzymes.
Your body is most susceptible to chigger bites around areas where clothing fits tightly, like your waistband, groin, ankles, and the backs of your knees. You may not notice chigger bites until several hours afterward.
Itching starts in the hours after being bitten by chiggers. Unfortunately, this itching sensation can last for days or even weeks at a time. Scratching chigger bites can lead to secondary infections by introducing bacteria into your skin.
Comparing Midge and Chigger Bites
One of the best ways to know whether you’re dealing with chigger bites vs. no-see-ums is to evaluate a few essential factors.
Timing of Symptoms
When did you first feel discomfort? If you noticed an immediate reaction to your bug bites, complete with pain and itching, you’re probably dealing with midge bites.
Delayed itching after several hours suggests chigger bites instead. For these bites, it’s common for people to start itching after a day or night outdoors and then wonder where the bites came from.
Bite Pattern
Perhaps the biggest indicator of which insect bite you’re dealing with is the bite pattern. Are your bites placed randomly around different areas of skin? Do they appear in clusters or align with your clothing placement?
Midge bites appear in randomly scattered clusters on exposed skin surfaces. You might have several body parts littered with no-see-um bites.
Chigger bites, on the other hand, will pop up in areas where your clothing is the most form-fitted. This becomes noticeable when the delayed itching reaction begins.
Duration of Symptoms
After a few days, bites from no-see-ums will start to calm down. You won’t notice as much itching or burning. In contrast, itching and irritation from chigger bites can last for as long as two weeks.
When classifying no-see-um vs. chigger bites, think about how long you’ve been dealing with discomfort from the bites. More stubborn, long-lasting symptoms indicate that a chigger has made you its meal rather than a midge.
Prevention Strategies
So how can you prevent these annoying sensations and symptoms? The answer is to prevent bites in the first place. Permethrin can be highly effective when it comes to helping prevent midge and chigger bites, especially when paired with the right clothing.
Personal Protective Measures
Wearing long sleeves, pants, and close-toed shoes will cut down on the available body surfaces for midges and chiggers to flock to. You can also tuck your pants into your socks to create a solid barrier between your ankles and the outside world. When you’re in insect-prone areas like fields and marshes, it’s best to cover as much skin as possible to avoid bites.
Permethrin-based repellents work extremely well to keep midges and chiggers away from your clothing and outdoor gear. Combine both topical repellents and permethrin-treated clothing to maximize your protection.
DEET and picaridin are both safe for topical use and effective at repelling biting insects, including midges and chiggers, though their efficacy can vary depending on concentration. Apply topical EPA-approved repellents with these key ingredients on any exposed skin.
Environmental Controls
You can always avoid high-risk areas to cut down on your chances of getting bitten. Stay away from tall grasses, dense vegetation, and wetland areas during peak activity times. For midges, this means avoiding these areas during dawn and dusk.
Maintain your yard to make it less habitable for both types of critters. Keep your lawn trimmed, and remove any standing water to reduce breeding sites.
The Role of Permethrin-Treated Clothing
Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide that targets insects’ nervous systems immediately upon contact. This paralyzes the insects and ultimately leads to their death, which prevents bites and disease transmission.
You can apply permethrin spray to clothing, shoes, tents, and other outdoor gear. Buying clothing that’s already been treated with permethrin offers long-lasting and convenient protection.
Permethrin is effective against a broad range of insects, including midges and chiggers. It also targets ticks and mosquitoes, common outdoor nuisances during the warm weather months. Factory-treated permethrin clothing maintains effectiveness through the lifetime of the item, whereas DIY permethrin spray treatments typically last only through several washes.
Defend Against Insect Bites This Season
Midge bites will quickly irritate your skin and present symptoms, while chigger bites take a few hours to settle in. Once the itching begins, you’ll notice chigger bites clustered in areas with tight-fitting clothing. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, hiker, or avid traveler, you can stay ahead of insect bites using permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
Looking for odorless, convenient bite protection? Check out Insect Shield’s collection of permethrin-treated clothing and accessories today!
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