Both stages are about 1.25 mm long, hairy, and usually brilliant red. Both the adult and nymph have four pairs of legs. The minute, globular egg is light colored at first, changing to a darker color with age. The hairy larva is about 0.16 mm in diameter and orange-yellow or light red in color. It has six legs.
Chiggers are worldwide pests.
In North areas. Chiggers occur most frequently in berry patches, orchards, woodlands, pine straw, and along lake and stream margins. Larval chiggers attach themselves to the skin of people, domestic animals, wild animals, poultry and birds. Nymphs and adults feed on insect eggs, small insects and decaying organic matter. The larval stage firmly attaches to the skin.