Chiggers are small insect larvae that exist throughout the continental United States. Spending much of their lives in tall grasses, chiggers attempt to latch onto living creatures (such as humans) in order to feed on them by biting.Chigger BitesLike most biting insects, chiggers are primarily found during warmer months. Chiggers require a local water source, and they live at the edges of forests and tall grasses where they lay in wait for their prey. Hikers, backpackers, and people who spend time outdoors are at particular risk of chigger bites, as the chiggers attach to the skin after the human brushes against their habitat.Chiggers can bite several times each, but they tend to only bite in warm and moist areas of the skin such as the waste line, the ankles, or in skin folds. A few hours after the chigger bites a human, the human begins to experience itching and a slowly spreading rash. Looking at chigger bite pictures can help determine whether or not a bite is from a chigger or from another type of insect. Chigger bites tend to be larger and more raised than the bites of mosquitoes.Chigger Bite Treatment Chigger bites are rarely serious, causing only minor itching and discomfort to the afflicted individual. In most cases, the treatment of a chigger bite includes antihistamines or lotions that contain corticosteroids. Lotions that are intended for use on poison ivy also work on chigger bites, as they stop the spread of the rash and they keep the bite from itching. Under no circumstances should the individual with the chigger bites attempt to scratch the bites. Scratching bites can cause the skin to break open and bleed, leading to secondary infections and complications that make the chigger bites much more serious than they were originally.Chigger Bite PreventionPreventing chigger bites is relatively simple. When going outside, the use of long sleeves and long pants will prevent the chiggers from being able to work their way to bare skin. Chiggers are not able to fly, and they are not very mobile, so they rely on direct contact of the human body with the leaves and grasses that chiggers hide on. Applying DEET bug spray has been shown to prevent chigger bites as well, and there are non-chemical insect repellents that show equal promise.