In article <19940721.133519.642594.NETNEWS at UICVM.UIC.EDU>, Bruce L. Lambert
<bruce at ludwig.pmad.uic.edu> wrote:
> You guys are the experts. Can you tell me about chiggers? What is their
> life cycle? How can they be gotten rid of, etc. Any and all info would be
> helpful.
Having had ample opportunity to experiment with different methods of
preventing chiggers from attaching to my skin, I've found that sulfur
powder is the best repellant. I put it in an old sock and simply pat in on
my socks and on the clothes around my waist. In the field I invariably
wear long pants which seem to restrict chiggers to coming in at the ankle
or at the waist. I keep the sulfur in the sock and reapply it each time I
go in the field. It is much less noxious than DEET (concentrated DEET will
dissolve plastics). Sulfur powder is very effective, inexpensive, and can
be found commonly in pharmacies and drug-stores.
--
C. Alex Buerkle, Indiana University, Biology, Bloomington, IN 47405
cbuerkle at sunflower.bio.indiana.edu Ph:812-855-5895 Fax:812-855-0411
