Definition

Noun: 1. A larval mite that sucks the blood of vertebrates, including humans, causing intense irritation: This term refers specifically to the parasitic larval stage of certain mites, particularly those of the family Trombiculidae. These tiny, often red-colored larvae attach to the skin to feed on tissue fluids, resulting in itchy, red welts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After hiking through the tall grass, I found a redbug attached to my ankle.
  • The intense itching is a classic symptom of a redbug bite.
  • Wearing long sleeves and pants can help prevent redbug infestations.

Advanced Usage

• The term "redbug" is often used interchangeably with "chigger" in common American English, though "chigger" is more widely recognized. In strict entomological terms, "redbug" can sometimes refer more specifically to certain regional species.
• The irritation is not from a bite in the traditional sense, but from the larva's feeding process and its digestive enzymes, which cause a reaction in the skin.

Variants and Related Words

• Chigger (n): The most common synonym for redbug, referring to the same parasitic larval mite.
• Harvest mite (n): Another common name for the same organism, used particularly in British English.
• Trombiculid (n): The scientific family name for these mites.
• Chigoe (n): A different parasitic flea (), found in tropical areas, sometimes confused with a redbug/chigger but which burrows into the skin.

Synonyms

• Chigger
• Harvest mite
• Scrub itch mite (regional)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Chigger bites" / "Redbug bites": The painful, itchy skin lesions caused by these larvae.
  • He spent the afternoon scratching his chigger bites.
• "To get chiggers/redbugs": To become infested with or bitten by these larvae.
  • Be careful in that field, or you'll get chiggers.

Noun

1. larval mite that sucks the blood of vertebrates including human beings causing intense irritation