Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
SEASON OF THE CHIGGER

vHIS is the season of the chigger, o
the "jigger," which some foil
hereabout call red bugs" or "ses
ticks" and which entomologists who
have studied them. including Duges, Meg
min, Riley. Nathan Banks and F. H
Chittenden, call or denounce "Trombi
dunn" which belong to the order Acaria
and are members of a distinct class
Arachnida, along with ticks, spiders and
the like. Washingtonians and persons
who live around Washington generally
call them chiggers and jiggers. a word
probably corrupted from "chigoe," the
pernicious sand flea Of tropical America,
which causes serious foot troubles
The chigger in activity and maleyo-
fence Is out of all proportion to its size,
for the scientists write of him as a mi
mute creature. and they say that these
pests are the larval or six-legged forms
or harvest mites. the adults of which
have eight legs The immature chierer
with its six legs is microscopic, but the
adult with his eight legs is easily visible
He is bloodthirsty. daring and reIent-
less CHAP. He nurtures in his breast no
sense OF tenderness or pity. He is pre-
daceous on true insects and he attaches
nimsen TO the bodies Of grasshoppers,
which everybody knows as srandaddy-
longiegs or just as daddylonglegs. He
VIII attack the tenderest gentlest per
son who ventures near his lurking place.
stout boots and wooden socks win not
palk this desperate. SO you can under
STAND with what exultant glee he con-
templates a pair OF slippers and sheer
hose. Ankles are his favorite food. but
ne VIII not disdain heavier and stronger
meat An elbow joint, an armpit or a
knee joint makes a merry meal for him.
X
Millions Of the chiggers are TODAY wait
ing IN ambush in damp locations. along
the borders Of streams and ponds and on
the edges Of forest and woodland He
hangs upon the under surface OF the leave.
OF trees and shrubs. and he crouches ready
TO fall on You as You pass by. He NAV
seize you by the scalp. or strike You In
the neck. He may be In the grass and
nerbage at the very spot where Won sit
with knitting. or with novel or with SON
ne. to pass a summer hour. Some va
rieties of the chigger like the shade
while others thrive in sunny places II
Is hard to escape the chigger; il YOU are
tough. he may bite In vain.
The chigger does not confine his opera
tons to the vicinity Of Washington. The
cdpitaI enjoys no such distinction. He
honors other places with his presence.
He Is an international worker. In Eng
and and Scotland he pursues his evil
ways under the alias of "gooseberry
2ug. and his depredations extend into
France. Germany, Belgium and Holland.
N tropical America, the West Indies and
n Japan he is the same voracious cause
II much annoyance.
Mr.. Chittenden of the Department of |
Agriculture. entomologtst in charge of
breeding experiments. says concerning the ,
.higger:
THE female lays her eggs in or upon
he ground. sometimes to the number Of
% In one place. The eggs are usually 8
,rown and spherical. and have been con- ,
idered by some early writer's as fungi.
The chlonon. or outer skin. splits soon after
he eggs are deposited. dividing the eggs
nto halves and exposing the pale v1tte-