Camping PSA - Redbugs or Chiggers (Now I get it)

[hitchn2go]

Since this forum provides a “Learn from Other’s Mistakes” theme, thought I would add this.

Camped at Charlestown State Park for a couple of weeks. Left my chair outside under a tree at night. It rained. Did not go into surrounding scrub brush trails at all. Sat in my chair enjoying a cold beverage or two several of those days. Got insatiable itching around my torso. It was chiggers. Only thing I can think of is they washed out of tree onto my chair. Could have crawled up from grass too. Who knows. It has been over a week and still itches.

They say not to scratch—yeah, right

Lesson: 1) fold up and stow chairs at night, 2) use something with deet or something similar in it.

...just saying...

[Reverse_snowbird]

My sympathies.
#2 is the best advice. Chiggers usually crawl up from the ground and after a night of rain, they were looking for a place to feed. You're obviously a tasty morsel.
Ticks crawl, hop and fall out of trees. I actually felt one fall out of a tree and into my hair. Got the sucker before he could attach.
Best to make yourself less tasty with a good bug repellent before you step outside.

[hitchn2go]

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

[Squatchin]

Originally Posted by hitchn2go

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

Ahh Yes! America’s Oldest Brewery

[hitchn2go]

They do it right! Only bright spot of the story.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by hitchn2go

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

They are like bear bugs up here in Canada! Molson Canadian, Poutine or dU Marier smoke attract the little buggers. Usually in May 24!

[Scrapper]

Quote: "Ticks crawl, hop and fall out of trees."

And crawl out of grass, shrubbery and weeds. So if you are exposed to such along the road, hiking on trails in your favorite state or national park, or just sitting on your chair in the grass at the campfire you should use repellent. I have even seen ticks crawling on my garage walls, inside and out, as I regularly have deer, coyotes, fox and rabbits in my yard.

[milkman55]

If you have some Windex in your RV, spray the bites. The ammonia in the Windex helps the itching.

My DW got fire ant bites the first night out last week and after Benadryl and Cortisone cream, the Windex worked.

[dblr]

Originally Posted by hitchn2go

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

A favorite in our family even so much that we just took 8 cases out with us to our son in New Mexico, one case even had the Phillies logo on it, he was like a little kid on Christmas morning when he got them

[Bethey]

Originally Posted by hitchn2go

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

My favorite

[Cyote61]

I'm sure most of you old timers know this. When ticks decide to hold a convention or a protest they find a cedar tree and stack up on every branch. You just brush up against a cedar and you're covered with ticks in the season. Now as Paul always said, here is the rest of the story. Deer and most critters love cedar tress since the foliage is so think it makes perfect cover, shade an windbreak. The ticks get on and off from there. No page 2.

[Tundra 2014]

I feel for you! In South Texas chiggers in Black dirt and sugar ants in sand will get you. I started carrying Seven dust, comes in shake tube, and putting around the stabilizers of my rig and where we sit. Cheap at about $3.50 a shake can, does not take much. Mainly prevents the sugar ants from getting into the RV. They are soo small, they get into everything and a huge pain to get of the trailer. I have had my dog run through high grass and then jump on my legs and spreed chiggers.

[rskeans]

I never heard of these little creatures in CA or AZ. Are we missing something ??

[gkehman]

NO! You are not missing anything. You don't want anything to do with a chigger. They are actually the larval stage of a flea that infects mice. Tall grass is a perfect place to get them. They are too small to see so you don't know you have been "attacked" until later. Any place where your clothing fits snug will be a prime target, ie. your socks, the waistband of your pants or underwear, your armpits, etc. They burrow under the skin and will leave small bumps similar to a pimple that itch unbelievably for weeks. I have yet to find anything that really stops the itch.

[Coolbaldguy]

The only thing I have found that cures the itch. Coat the red dots with fingernail polish. The nail polish seals off the bug from oxygen (yes they burrow into you). If the spots are where they can be seen by others, I recommend CLEAR fingernail polish.

[Tundra 2014]

Maybe Cal and Arz. do not have black dirt-Chiggers.
When I walk thru high grass I spray socks and pull them over the bottom of my jeans. I also spray my waistband and neck w/ Ben's Repellant. Stuff just works.

[dbledan]

I cannot help the itching but to prevent future issues put promethean on your chair. It inhibits their breathing and they die.

[Tundra 2014]

I think you are talking about .5% Permethrin. Great stuff as long you do not let your bare skin touch anything sprayed w/ it. I have a coverall that I wear over long sleeves, thermals and jeans deer hunting or bird hunting
I hate ticks if there has not been a hard freeze ,the deer are covered w/ them opening weekend in TX. It kills ticks/fleas/chiggers immediately on contact w/ a treated garment. Good even after 10 washings. There are warning labels all over the can to not breath or touch it while damp-and "No Direct Skin" contact w/ garment after. It takes about 3-4 oz. to spray a garment and then let dry completely.
The military uses this stuff for a reason., just be careful w/ use.

[Native Texan]

I HATE chiggers and they LOVE me. All I have to do is look at tall grass...

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by hitchn2go

...in case anyone was curious...Yuengling Lager.

Their Black & Tan is the best stuff on the market if you like dark beer

As for the red bugs, it only takes once to learn your lesson