Chiggers are extremely tiny arachnids, often too small to be seen with the naked eye. Their larvae, which are the biting stage, are about less than 1/150 inch in diameter (approximately 0.2 mm) and have six legs. They are typically reddish-orange or red in color, sometimes appearing yellowish after feeding. Adult chiggers have eight legs and are slightly larger, about 1/60 inch in diameter (around 0.4 mm), but still very small
. In terms of appearance:
- Larval chiggers are red or reddish-orange and have six legs.
- Adults have eight legs and look similar to other mites.
- They have an elongated, somewhat oval and flattened body shape, which helps them move through grass and vegetation.
- Their mouthparts include tiny pincers and a needle-like structure used to pierce skin and feed
Because of their microscopic size and coloration, chiggers are very difficult to spot without magnification such as a hand lens or microscope. Their presence is more commonly noticed by the intensely itchy red welts or bumps they leave on the skin after biting
. In summary, chiggers look like tiny red or reddish-orange six-legged larvae that are almost invisible to the naked eye, with adults having eight legs and a mite-like appearance
