Definition

1. Noun:
   • A very small, six-legged larval mite (of the family Trombiculidae) that attaches to the skin of vertebrates, including humans, to feed on tissue fluids, causing intense itching and skin irritation.
   • A small tropical flea (also known as a chigoe or Tunga penetrans), the fertile female of which burrows under the skin of a host, including humans, to lay eggs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After walking through the tall grass, I got several chigger bites on my ankles.
  • The intense itching is a classic symptom of a chigger bite.
  • In some tropical regions, the burrowing chigger flea can cause serious infections.

Advanced Usage

• "Chigger bite": The skin lesion, characterized by a red bump and severe itching, caused by the feeding of a chigger mite larva.
  • Applying anti-itch cream can help relieve the discomfort of a chigger bite.

Variants and Related Words

• Chigoe (n): Another name for the burrowing flea (), often used interchangeably with "chigger" in some regions, though they are biologically distinct from mite larvae.
• Harvest mite (n): A common name for the chigger mite larva in some areas.
• Red bug (n): A common name for the chigger mite larva.

Synonyms

• For the mite larva: harvest mite, red bug, scrub-itch mite.
• For the flea: chigoe flea, sand flea, jigger (note: "jigger" can be a variant spelling but is also a separate term for a different parasite or a measuring cup, so context is key).

Important Note on Meaning

This word has two distinct biological meanings, which can cause confusion: 1. In North America, "chigger" most commonly refers to the larval stage of a trombiculid mite. 2. In some other regions, particularly the tropics, "chigger" may refer to the burrowing chigoe flea. The context (geographic location and description of the pest) usually clarifies which meaning is intended. Both are parasites that affect humans and cause skin problems.

Noun

1. larval mite that sucks the blood of vertebrates including human beings causing intense irritation
2. small tropical flea; the fertile female burrows under the skin of the host including humans