What is this? Lice, mites or ticks?

[Noelle]

If there is anyone who is good at identifying insects on Avalon, I sure could use your help.

About a month ago, an insect infestation began at our central Florida home, both inside and outside. The problem is consuming so much of my time and energy, and I know no more about what I am dealing with right now than I did when it started, despite talking to a pest expert, neighbors and others along with countless Internet searches.

First, I need to point out that our family includes a German Shepherd and several cats, which I don't treat with pesticides. I usually control pests with regular grooming, diatomaceous earth, apple cider vinegar, and other non-toxic solutions. We do get regular pest service (eco-friendly) to control fire ants, fleas, ticks, etc. outside, and have had no issues with insects for at least four years.

We have a fenced in dog area in the backyard, which backs up to a canal. There are two oak trees and three fruit trees in the backyard too. When the dog is in the backyard, this mystery creature jumps on his feet, legs, belly, and other areas. The size and shape of the bug varies from brown specks, which I find mostly on the dog's feet and legs, to slightly larger reddish-brown dots (I see no legs on these things). My thinking is they are the same bug, and the difference in size and color reflects their age.

The cats are kept indoors, though they have access to our large screened-in porch. Not only are the insects coming in and infesting the cats via the dog, but they are flying through the screens.

A few other important things to note: they have white nits, which I have to comb off the animals every day; they seem to be sucking blood (I've smashed a few with blood in them); and they often attach to the animals' chins or crawl into their ears.

I've tried the following: diatomaceous earth, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, natural pest control for pet (usually contains peppermint oil). All seem to provide some relief, but it's temporary.

I have asked several neighbors if they have noticed this bug -- all people with pets -- and so far no one else is experiencing it.

Any help in identifying the bug would be greatly appreciated. Right now, I'm considering chiggers, seed ticks, or some unknown mite-lice hybrid.

[Ewan]

Look like young ticks to me but we would need a close-up to establish more I think.

PS: I've heard the term 'Chiggers' and assumed it was a colloquial nickname for some kind of tick?

[mojo]

looking more like bedbugs but the image is not definitive

[william r sanford72]

could bee seed ticks. Cant really tell from the pictures..sorry.. tho that's what they remind me of and kinda look like and where and how your finding them.

www.parasiticpests.com/seed-ticks.htm

What are seed ticks? - Seed tick is the name given to ticks when they are going through two of the immature stages of their lifecycle. The term does not refer to specific specie of tick. Ticks have four stages to their lifecycle: egg, larva, nymph and adult. Seed ticks can be used as a description for both the larvae and the nymphs (as they look like little seeds). Once the female adult tick mates and deposits it’s eggs (in the thousands), the eggs hatch to six legged larvae which then crawl and search nearby for small animals (hosts) to begin feeding on. Once the parasites have successfully had a blood meal, they fall off the host, moult and become nymphs (with eight legs). Once again, the nymphs then repeat the process of finding a host and feeding on their blood. They too fall off and moult and then emerge as adults. The adult finds a further host (or possibly the same one), feeds and once well fed, is ready to mate and produce eggs.

Seed ticks on dogs - These parasites are normally found in large numbers (hundreds if not thousands). Therefore if you or your dog have a seed tick, it is highly likely that there will be many more nearby or where you have recently been...

................................

Hope that helps..

William.

[Ewan]

could bee seed ticks. Cant really tell from the pictures..sorry.. tho that's what they remind me of and kinda look like and where and how your finding them.



William, you have Bee's on the brain. :bigsmile:

[TargeT]

not seeing the leggs rules out ticks, their legs are very visible
https://s.hswstatic.com/gif/tick-10.gif

it's not fleas (too big also),
http://pinebankvet.co.uk/info/fighting-fleas/flea1.jpg

and it's not mites (mites are super super small)
http://www.ourveggiegarden.com/Careimages/SpiderMites/SpiderMiteAdult.jpg

you've got something else there...

Looks like dirt to me.. haha



First, I need to point out that our family includes a German Shepherd and several cats, which I don't treat with pesticides. I usually control pests with regular grooming, diatomaceous earth, apple cider vinegar, and other non-toxic solutions. We do get regular pest service (eco-friendly) to control fire ants, fleas, ticks, etc. outside, and have had no issues with insects for at least four years.

Just remember... Hormesis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2248601/)is REAL and WORKS!

low level exposures to toxins is actually very very good for you, better than avoiding them all together. The key is to keep the exposure in the lower levels.

so uh,, don't be afraid of some Bravecto (https://us.bravecto.com/) ;)

I use that on my 14(?) dogs and have for years it's really amazing stuff; and takes quite a bit less work than your methods, but then I deal in volume; so different techniques apply.

[KiwiElf]

Some of these images seem to match LadyM - (WARNING: some of these are gross)

https://www.google.com/search?q=ticks+on+dogs&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv28CCxNjaAhXJVbwKHR74BXgQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=923#imgrc=_

[TargeT]

nah, definitely not a tick, even when they are as small as they can get the legs are SUPER visible.

(I deal with hundreds of these lil guys every year... when the eggs hatch we call it a "tick bloom" haha)

Luckily with Bravecto none of the ticks attach to our animals. (we use a topical spray on the horses).

[Noelle]

Thanks, everyone, for the responses, especially to you, Kiwi, for totally grossing me out. :bigsmile:

I know. I wish had better images. I will try to get some more, though all I have for a camera is my iPhone.

Do bed bug problems begin in backyards and head indoors?

It was the pest control guy who "guessed" it was chiggers.

These critters are everywhere in and outside of my home. I vacuum twice a day and lint roll floors and furniture constantly to remove them.

[Bob]

I've experienced chiggers outside of Abilene TX - not something that one would want to experience again... over 600 bites inside of 2 hours totally with the critters totally thriving off DeepWoods OFF !

Looks like mites to me.. http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/tropical-entomology/factsheets/Avocado_pest_mites.shtml take a look at that page..

I believe one can take a strip of masking tape, lay it out and capture enough of the critters so that u can send the sample in a plastic bag to the University for identification and a recommended treatment.

Sample submissions website : http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/plantdiagnosticclinic/submissions-and-contact/


Our services include analysis of plant material for bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode pathogens as well as the identification of insect pests. All diagnoses include appropriate control measures when available.

== updating ==

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/about-us/contact-us/

For submitting bug/insect samples:


Contact Us
Please contact the following people for help with your specific questions about the department:

Reception
Ms. Nancy Sanders (352) 273-3901
nsanders@ufl.edu


The INSECT ID LAB:
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/insectid/


Need to name that bug?
A host of experts is available to help Floridians identify any insect or related arthropod. If your mystery creature has six or more legs, the UF Insect ID Lab is the place to send it.

In most cases when you send a specimen to the Insect ID Lab, manager Lyle Buss will review it, identify it and respond with the result.

If it is an unusual specimen, Mr. Buss forwards it to a commodity or taxonomic specialist within the UF/IFAS Extension System or the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry. Mr. Buss will send you the final identification results.

Read instructions and complete the form to begin the process.

You may email Lyle Buss, or call him at (352) 273-3933.
ljbuss@ufl.edu

[Noelle]

I've experienced chiggers outside of Abilene TX - not something that one would want to experience again... over 600 bites inside of 2 hours totally with the critters totally thriving off DeepWoods OFF !

Looks like mites to me.. http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/tropical-entomology/factsheets/Avocado_pest_mites.shtml take a look at that page..

I believe one can take a strip of masking tape, lay it out and capture enough of the critters so that u can send the sample in a plastic bag to the University for identification and a recommended treatment.

Sample submissions website : http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/plantdiagnosticclinic/submissions-and-contact/


Our services include analysis of plant material for bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode pathogens as well as the identification of insect pests. All diagnoses include appropriate control measures when available.

Thanks, Bob. Good idea! I have those sticky lint rollers that I use to pick them up off the floors. I'll bag a few samples from them.

TargeT: I am going to research Bravecto. Thanks for the tip.

[Bob]

LadyM - I did just update my post for the U of Florida to include their INSECT ID LAB (see the update at the bottom of the post).

RE the sticky tape, pull it off the roller, and place it in a few spots outside and inside, and then in separate plastic bags for the specimen sample.

The labs want as fresh as possible samples.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Nasty. Looks like some kind of mite, or weevil maybe. Having a profound distaste for anything with more than 4 legs, I truly hate bugs! I hope you are able to get rid of these pesky things whatever they are.

[Tam]

Oh boy. These things.

I think they're called weevils? Little bugs that come out of flour.

Are they tiny, and sort of brownish black, and round in shape? Do they have a sort of rough texture, not quite smooth?

If so, then I'm pretty sure you have weevils. Hard to be sure from that picture though.

My mother had an infestation a couple of years back. It was a nightmare. Hundreds of them would litter the floor, every week. Daily she would sweep up dozens of their little corpses, all in the kitchen. We caulked every last little hair of a crack in the kitchen. We set out vinegar and honey and traps. Nothing worked. Finally, out of desperatation, we called in an exterminator and had the kitchen gassed. That stopped them for about a month, then they came back.

Then one day, my mom was cleaning out the pantry and cupboards, and out, way in the back of our pantry, behind the trash, on the floor, was an old bag of flour she had forgotten about. It had been there for years, was all dusty and nasty, and clearly expired.

She grabbed it, and opened it, and the thing was teeming with weevils, crawling all through it.

Turns out, these things naturally lay eggs in flour. Tiny, tiny little eggs, smaller than the flour, also white, so impossible to detect. Fun fact: most flour has it, it's just natural and there's no escaping it, but they're usually dead. Well, this bag of flour had millions of eggs, and thousands were still alive. So they hatched. And weevils procreate very very fast, and they're short lived.

Anyway, they chewed through the bag in some areas, exited it, and also got their way into anything that wasn't in a sealed container. Panko, spices, sugar, salt, cookies...you name it.

She had to throw out hundreds of dollars' worth of food.

Ever since that day, she has everything meticulously organized in labeled bins and jars, all of which are sealed. That way, if another breakout happens, it would be isolated and easy to control/locate. It cost a couple of hundred bucks to get all those jars and bins, but it was worth it, since her pantry and cupboards look beautiful, and, most importantly, it's hygienic and prevents pests.

You can get really inexpensive glass jars and plastic bins at IKEA. Get chalk markers and chalkboard stickers, which are dirt cheap on Amazon, and boom, your kitchen gets a sexy makeover and you will never have a bug problem ever again. I did just that when I moved out almost a year ago.

My advice: strip your pantry. Clear every cupboard. Check EVERYTHING, and if you see a bug, just bite your lip and toss it out.

You caught it early. Consider yourself lucky.

And seriously, do the jars/bins thing. It is 110% worth the initial burden.

[RunningDeer]

They don't look like the ticks I use to pull off my Little One.
Stepping out now. This thread is making me itchy.

http://avalonlibrary.net/paula/Notices/bugs.jpg

[Valerie Villars]

They are not ticks. I was going to say chiggers.

I'll bet the USDA in your area (I believe every county has one) would be able to identify them and help you deal with eradicating them.

[Noelle]

@Indigris, cleaning out the cupboards is good advice, and I do plan on doing that. Thankfully, I don't store a lot of food. I'm not sure about the weevils. I don't think weevils are parasites, specifically blood-sucking ones, or attach to cat and dog chins and ears (inner ear).

@RunningDeer, sorry. :) I've been itchy for about a month now, even though I've only found a few on me after handling the cats and dog. I also lint roll myself every 30 mins. or so to make sure.

@ValerieVillars, yes, there must be something like that in my county. Thank you!

[DeDukshyn]

Definitely not weevils, and likely not ticks, too big to be mites I think, but maybe lice ...

You say they fly? And have nits? Are you sure were dealing with just one type of critter here? The images look entirely like lice to me (full of blood), and that would certainly explain nits and blood sucking, but the flying? Lice don't fly ...

Dog lice image:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/12220333/can-dogs-get-lice.jpg

[AutumnW]

Do an image search for 'tropical bed bugs'. They are something new to Florida as of 2016.

[AutumnW]

Could be tobacco beetles, too. They go after dry food, tobacco etc..

[Satori]

Apple seeds. Just kidding.

Go on to a search engine. Put in a search term something like. "Insects indigenous to [name of your state]." Maybe say "small insects....."

I bet you find it.

[Noelle]

Definitely not weevils, and likely not ticks, too big to be mites I think, but maybe lice ...

You say they fly? And have nits? Are you sure were dealing with just one type of critter here? The images look entirely like lice to me (full of blood), and that would certainly explain nits and blood sucking, but the flying? Lice don't fly ...

Dog lice image:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/12220333/can-dogs-get-lice.jpg

Thanks for the reply, DeDukshyn. My very first guess was lice, because of the nits plus itchiness of the animals; but then I noticed they were going into the dog's and cats' inner ears, which is what mites do.

They could be two separate parasites, but what are the chances of a bloom -- more like an explosion -- of two separate critters at about the same time? They look like very tiny lice when on the dog's ankles and on the cats' chins, but then there are the reddish-brown dots on other part of their bodies and on my floors. The dots are either flat or plump (probably full of blood).

@AutumnW: Thanks for the suggestions. Can bed bug infestations begin outdoors? The problem appears to be outdoors, which is brought indoors by the dog and possibly the critters flying through screens and maybe even the A/C system.

@Satori. I wish they were apple seeds. :bigsmile: I have done so much Internet searching. My next step will likely be the county or the university bug dept.

[RunningDeer]

@RunningDeer, sorry. :) I've been itchy for about a month now, even though I've only found a few on me after handling the cats and dog. I also lint roll myself every 30 mins. or so to make sure.
LadyM, I wasn’t sure if you experienced itching before your infestation. If so, this post is :offtopic:

Introduction of new products can cause itching, such as: allergic to a new food product, change in laundry detergent, cleansers, lawn spray treatments, or change in seasons, i.e. pollen.

One simple example is to my surprise, I’m allergic to beansprouts. It feels like ants crawling under my skin. It doesn’t matter if the seeds are organic, or which kind I sprout and rinse really well. Whether it’s the seed itself or traces of mold, I never figured out. Sometimes, it triggered an asthmatic reaction.

Years back, I went for testing. I learned I’m allergic to mold, mildew, some trees and grass and foods like eggs and wheat. I eliminated the stress, modified the foods and detoxed. It’s 99% better. Even the foods that once caused allergic reactions, I can now have in moderation.

The 8 Best Remedies for Itching (https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/best-remedies-for-itching)

♡

[Noelle]

@RunningDeer, sorry. :) I've been itchy for about a month now, even though I've only found a few on me after handling the cats and dog. I also lint roll myself every 30 mins. or so to make sure.
LadyM, I wasn’t sure if you experienced itching before your infestation. If so, this post is :offtopic:

Introduction of new products can cause itching, such as: allergic to a new food product, change in laundry detergent, cleansers, lawn spray treatments, or change in seasons, i.e. pollen.

One simple example is to my surprise, I’m allergic to beansprouts. It feels like ants crawling under my skin. It doesn’t matter if the seeds are organic, or which kind I sprout and rinse really well. Whether it’s the seed itself or traces of mold, I never figured out. Sometimes, it triggered an asthmatic reaction.

Years back, I went for testing. I learned I’m allergic to mold, mildew, some trees and grass and foods like eggs and wheat. I eliminated the stress, modified the foods and detoxed. It’s 99% better. Even the foods that once caused allergic reactions, I can now have in moderation.

The 8 Best Remedies for Itching (https://www.healthline.com/health/outdoor-health/best-remedies-for-itching)

♡

It definitely started with the infestation. My itchiness is due to me having a couple on me but mostly from picking them off the floors and watching the animals scratch. Thanks, though, for the info. It may come in handy down the road. :)

[Joe from the Carolinas]

Diatomaceous earth will dry those suckers up fast, whatever in the heck they are. No chemicals, just fossilized algae (wear a dust mask to apply).

[Noelle]

Diatomaceous earth will dry those suckers up fast, whatever in the heck they are. No chemicals, just fossilized algae (wear a dust mask to apply).

Thank you, Joe. I've got a bag of the food-grade variety and have been patting down the animals with it every day. Should I be dusting the yard with it too? Whatever it is, I hope it's just passing through and not here to stay.

[TargeT]

Diatomaceous earth will dry those suckers up fast, whatever in the heck they are. No chemicals, just fossilized algae (wear a dust mask to apply).

Dusk mask? why? I use that for my pool's filter and I used to eat 2 table spoons of that a day (https://draxe.com/diatomaceous-earth/) for a while... tasted very earthy. I wouldn't wear a mask (unless previously compromised in someway), that's a good stimuli.

Hormesis includes tiny sharp bits of fossilized algae ;)


I would check to see if they are oak mites.

Are they that big? I always thought mites were generally very small. I guess it's just a type of arachnid though, so there could be all kinds of sizes.

[TomKat]

The only flea & tick collar that works a darn is the Seresto, expensive, but REALLY worth it and good for 8 months.
The only topical that works a darn is Advantage II. You should probably give your dogs both until it's under control. Lime disease is no fun, I hear.

[Noelle]

The only flea & tick collar that works a darn is the Seresto, expensive, but REALLY worth it and good for 8 months.
The only topical that works a darn is Advantage II. You should probably give your dogs both until it's under control. Lime disease is no fun, I hear.

Thank you. I've never heard of the Seresto collar. I'm praying these are not ticks. :facepalm:

[Joe from the Carolinas]

Diatomaceous earth will dry those suckers up fast, whatever in the heck they are. No chemicals, just fossilized algae (wear a dust mask to apply).

Thank you, Joe. I've got a bag of the food-grade variety and have been patting down the animals with it every day. Should I be dusting the yard with it too? Whatever it is, I hope it's just passing through and not here to stay.

Awesome. I wouldn’t recommend dusting the yard as it will get washed out during your next rain, but dusting under any covered / rain-free areas around the home can work very well to slow down nearly every bug in existence.

[Joe from the Carolinas]

Diatomaceous earth will dry those suckers up fast, whatever in the heck they are. No chemicals, just fossilized algae (wear a dust mask to apply).

Dusk mask? why? I use that for my pool's filter and I used to eat 2 table spoons of that a day (https://draxe.com/diatomaceous-earth/) for a while... tasted very earthy. I wouldn't wear a mask (unless previously compromised in someway), that's a good stimuli.

Hormesis includes tiny sharp bits of fossilized algae ;)

:) on a microscopic level, the diatoms resemble shards of broken glass (this is how they are effective against bugs.. the shards get stuck on their bodies and they rip themselves apart whenever they move). For humans and our animal friends, diatomaceous earth can seriously irritate the airways and lungs, (more or less depending on whether the DE is amorphous or crystalline).

Since most manufacturers don’t list their sources, I find it best to wear the mask so I don’t breathe in a lungful of it. Eating it is fine as long as it is generally moist and wet- they say it cleans out the gut :)

[Noelle]

I phoned our pest service again this morning, and the owner actually came out because he saw it as an emergency situation (I'd say!).

He took the samples that I had and collected a few of his own. There were hundreds of them on the mailbox, so it was easy enough for him to do. He’s sending the samples to the lab at the University of Florida for identification.

He left here very perplexed; he had never seen anything like it before. I know. Lucky me. While here, he was on the phone with one of his workers, who is guessing chiggers.

If there's any good news for me today, it was when he told me he is almost 100% sure they are not baby ticks. :)

[Valerie Villars]

I phoned our pest service again this morning, and the owner actually came out because he saw it as an emergency situation (I'd say!).

He took the samples that I had and collected a few of his own. There were hundreds of them on the mailbox, so it was easy enough for him to do. He’s sending the samples to the lab at the University of Florida for identification.

He left here very perplexed; he had never seen anything like it before. I know. Lucky me. While here, he was on the phone with one of his workers, who is guessing chiggers.

If there's any good news for me today, it was when he told me he is almost 100% sure they are not baby ticks. :)

This little saga fascinates me, so please keep us posted.

When we were kids and we went either to the beach or spent time in the woods and we came home with itchy whelps, my Mom would always say they were chiggers. I never really knew exactly what a chigger was, but she was my Mom and equal with God in my eyes. I'm going to look up exactly what the heck those pesky little chiggers really are.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/prevent-treat-chigger-bites#1

Here you go hon. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Axman]

Have to say little baby chiggers are red like that. boy do they suck they itch for weeks on end never again for me.
Good luck LADYM keep us posted please.
itch scratch itch Im out lol

The Axman

[Noelle]

Axman and Valerie Villars, I suppose they could be some form of young mite (chiggers), but from what I have read chiggers don't suck blood -- and I have seen specks of blood from some that I have smashed with my lint roller. We shall see.

I will definitely do an update post when the results come back. Thanks for the help with troubleshooting and itching and scratching right along with me. :happythumbsup:

[onevoice]

I phoned our pest service again this morning, and the owner actually came out because he saw it as an emergency situation (I'd say!).

He took the samples that I had and collected a few of his own. There were hundreds of them on the mailbox, so it was easy enough for him to do. He’s sending the samples to the lab at the University of Florida for identification.

He left here very perplexed; he had never seen anything like it before. I know. Lucky me. While here, he was on the phone with one of his workers, who is guessing chiggers.

If there's any good news for me today, it was when he told me he is almost 100% sure they are not baby ticks. :)

This little saga fascinates me, so please keep us posted.

When we were kids and we went either to the beach or spent time in the woods and we came home with itchy whelps, my Mom would always say they were chiggers. I never really knew exactly what a chigger was, but she was my Mom and equal with God in my eyes. I'm going to look up exactly what the heck those pesky little chiggers really are.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/prevent-treat-chigger-bites#1

Here you go hon. Good luck and keep us posted.

When I was growing up in Texas, I used to get bit by chiggers all the time whenever I walked through pasture or through any uncut grassy area. Best and simple remedy for chigger bites is to put a clear or skin tone nail polish on the red rash areas. What the nail polish does is seal the skin of the affected area so that the chiggers can't breathe and they die. Overnight, the itching stops and after a few days, the red patch will disappear.

[Noelle]

When I was growing up in Texas, I used to get bit by chiggers all the time whenever I walked through pasture or through any uncut grassy area. Best and simple remedy for chigger bites is to put a clear or skin tone nail polish on the red rash areas. What the nail polish does is seal the skin of the affected area so that the chiggers can't breathe and they die. Overnight, the itching stops and after a few days, the red patch will disappear.

Thanks, OneVoice. I've looked at some of the images related to chigger bites, and I have nothing like that. Just in case, I will pick up some nail polish tomorrow.

[DeDukshyn]

When I was growing up in Texas, I used to get bit by chiggers all the time whenever I walked through pasture or through any uncut grassy area. Best and simple remedy for chigger bites is to put a clear or skin tone nail polish on the red rash areas. What the nail polish does is seal the skin of the affected area so that the chiggers can't breathe and they die. Overnight, the itching stops and after a few days, the red patch will disappear.

Thanks, OneVoice. I've looked at some of the images related to chigger bites, and I have nothing like that. Just in case, I will pick up some nail polish tomorrow.

Maybe don't bother with the nail polish. True "chiggers" are the little red mites and don't burrow into the skin. Applying nail polish to the bites likely doesn't actually help, and the strong solvents in it might add to the irritation. https://www.thoughtco.com/does-nail-polish-kill-chiggers-1968056 It seems to be a bit of an old wive's tale, brought on by the belief that these mite larvae burrow in the skin like ticks or scabies -- they do not.

[Noelle]

When I was growing up in Texas, I used to get bit by chiggers all the time whenever I walked through pasture or through any uncut grassy area. Best and simple remedy for chigger bites is to put a clear or skin tone nail polish on the red rash areas. What the nail polish does is seal the skin of the affected area so that the chiggers can't breathe and they die. Overnight, the itching stops and after a few days, the red patch will disappear.

Thanks, OneVoice. I've looked at some of the images related to chigger bites, and I have nothing like that. Just in case, I will pick up some nail polish tomorrow.

Maybe don't bother with the nail polish. True "chiggers" are the little red mites and don't burrow into the skin. Applying nail polish to the bites likely doesn't actually help, and the strong solvents in it might add to the irritation. https://www.thoughtco.com/does-nail-polish-kill-chiggers-1968056 It seems to be a bit of an old wive's tale, brought on by the belief that these mite larvae burrow in the skin like ticks or scabies -- they do not.

I didn't buy the nail polish yet, and I decided not to after reading the article you shared. :) The article also points out that chiggers can grab onto hair follicles, which could explain why I am seeing nit-like things on the animals' fur.

[Hervé]

On the scarier side:

Deadly Scabies: US Ex-Model Gets Devoured Alive by Parasitic Mites (https://sputniknews.com/us/201804301064026261-nursing-home-parasites-death/)

Sputnik US (https://sputniknews.com/us/)
12:26 30.04.2018


https://cdn4.img.sputniknews.com/images/106402/47/1064024780.jpg
© Photo : Family photo


A 93-year old woman has reportedly passed away in a nursing home after suffering from a flesh-eating parasitic infestation, which the facility’s staff failed to treat for some reason.

The family of Rebecca Zeni, a former model and TV station employee who passed away in 2015 at the age of 93, is suing the company in charge of the nursing home where the woman died after it became apparent that her death was caused by a severe case of scabies, an investigation conducted by a local TV station, 11Alive, revealed.

A forensic pathologist who reviewed Zeni’s autopsy report said that according to his estimates there were hundreds of millions of mites living inside the woman, and that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to assume that her death was a painful one, as she was basically being eaten alive over the course of several months or even years. "I would seriously consider calling this a homicide by neglect," he said.

According to the records obtained by the media outlet from the Georgia Department of Public Health, state authorities were notified of a scabies outbreak at Zeni’s nursing home in 2013 and 2015 before her demise, but did not inspect the facility in person, opting instead to send a manual on how to treat scabies.

[Noelle]

On the scarier side:

Deadly Scabies: US Ex-Model Gets Devoured Alive by Parasitic Mites (https://sputniknews.com/us/201804301064026261-nursing-home-parasites-death/)

Sputnik US (https://sputniknews.com/us/)
12:26 30.04.2018


https://cdn4.img.sputniknews.com/images/106402/47/1064024780.jpg
© Photo : Family photo


A 93-year old woman has reportedly passed away in a nursing home after suffering from a flesh-eating parasitic infestation, which the facility’s staff failed to treat for some reason.

The family of Rebecca Zeni, a former model and TV station employee who passed away in 2015 at the age of 93, is suing the company in charge of the nursing home where the woman died after it became apparent that her death was caused by a severe case of scabies, an investigation conducted by a local TV station, 11Alive, revealed.

A forensic pathologist who reviewed Zeni’s autopsy report said that according to his estimates there were hundreds of millions of mites living inside the woman, and that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to assume that her death was a painful one, as she was basically being eaten alive over the course of several months or even years. "I would seriously consider calling this a homicide by neglect," he said.

According to the records obtained by the media outlet from the Georgia Department of Public Health, state authorities were notified of a scabies outbreak at Zeni’s nursing home in 2013 and 2015 before her demise, but did not inspect the facility in person, opting instead to send a manual on how to treat scabies.

That's crazy and frightening. What a way to leave this world.

[AutumnW]

Lady M,

In the last few days I have gotten a lot of chigger bites. Kind of ironic. They are itchy, but not overly so. And...I go them outside but I may have some in my carpets too. That is probably your problem.

[Noelle]

Lady M,

In the last few days I have gotten a lot of chigger bites. Kind of ironic. They are itchy, but not overly so. And...I go them outside but I may have some in my carpets too. That is probably your problem.

It's probably what they are. Do you get them often? We've been in this home for five years and never, ever had anything like it. The pest control company did send the samples to the University of Florida lab. It could be weeks before we get the results.

[Bill Ryan]

I'm afraid I know absolutely NOTHING about these things.

But to cheer everyone up for a moment, here's a most inspired joke from the excellent 2003 Russell Crowe film Master and Commander: :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-aPp7Kiiyg

:focus:

[Noelle]

I'm afraid I know absolutely NOTHING about these things.

But to cheer everyone up for a moment, here's a most inspired joke from the excellent 2003 Russell Crowe film Master and Commander: :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-aPp7Kiiyg

:focus:

:ROFL: I would take weevils over what we've got here. They are much easier to see and vacuum up.

[Joe from the Carolinas]

I'm afraid I know absolutely NOTHING about these things.

But to cheer everyone up for a moment, here's a most inspired joke from the excellent 2003 Russell Crowe film Master and Commander: :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-aPp7Kiiyg

:focus:

THE LESSER OF TWO WEEVILS! I love that film.

On topic, anyone dealing with chigger bites, just smear and rub in some pure castor oil on em. No more itching.

[Noelle]

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry, but I think it's best to go with the former. The Univ. of Florida sent me the results for the samples sent and ... they are not bugs. :)

They are Oxalis (woodsorrel) seeds, but they do look like mites. They fooled me and the pest control company. Even the specimen that I took from the inside of my dog's ear was a seed. I'm still not sure what the nits were, which are now just about gone.

Attached photo is of Oxalis seeds.

:bigsmile:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRHCyEOh7I

[Bob]

It most certainly is better being safe having 'checked it out'.

Says something about the 'exterminator' tho.. where is their 'science' ? Just spraying away without knowing what... ugh..

Glad you are feeling safer.

[Bo Atkinson]

With all due respect, in a properly considerate way, may i say: Get a USB microscope, people! Plug one in and get good screen shots to post or share, for everyones benefit. Cheap ones work very well for this purpose.

Here we are in the throws of world upheaval, where we should be independently self- researching, as much as possible. If not easily sharing developments.

We are having an invasion of ticks here, for the last 2 or 3 years, (entirely unprecedented). I even got one while working under my car, on gravel, not grass! We are becoming able to detect them crawling on us, sooner now and will not yield to the invasion.

Still attracted to this solution, as our hens are too aggressive with the vegetable garden, where guinea-fowl are said to be serious predators of garden pests (and rarely eat vegetables?). https://thefreerangelife.com/5-reasons-not-to-own-guinea-fowl/


Ps- Thanks to everyone for your helpful thoughts on the OP...

[Noelle]

With all due respect, in a properly considerate way, may i say: Get a USB microscope, people! Plug one in and get good screen shots to post or share, for everyones benefit. Cheap ones work very well for this purpose.

Here we are in the throws of world upheaval, where we should be independently self- researching, as much as possible. If not easily sharing developments.

We are having an invasion of ticks here, for the last 2 or 3 years, (entirely unprecedented). I even got one while working under my car, on gravel, not grass! We are becoming able to detect them crawling on us, sooner now and will not yield to the invasion.

Still attracted to this solution, as our hens are too aggressive with the vegetable garden, where guinea-fowl are said to be serious predators of garden pests (and rarely eat vegetables?). https://thefreerangelife.com/5-reasons-not-to-own-guinea-fowl/

Thanks for the USB microscope suggestion. :) They don't cost much at all. All the best with your tick issue. With my roots in Connecticut, I've had my share of dealing with those bugs.

[Valerie Villars]

Lady M, I was just thinking about your pickle yesterday and wondering what the outcome was.

Glad you got it sorted out. :bigsmile: