Chiggers are tiny mites that belong to the family Trombiculidae. They are also known as harvest mites, berry bugs, bush-mites, red bugs, or scrub-itch mites. Chiggers are often confused with jiggers, which are a type of flea. Chiggers are found in tall grass, weeds, and wooded areas, especially near water. They are most active during the summer months when temperatures are hot. Chiggers attach to the hosts skin, pierce it, and inject enzymes into the bite wound that digest cellular contents. They then suck up the digested tissue through a tube formed by hardened skin cells called a stylostome. Chiggers do not burrow into the skin or suck blood, as is commonly assumed. Itching from a chigger bite may not develop until 24-48 hours after the bite, so the victim may not associate the specific exposure with the bite itself. The main symptoms of chigger bites are severe itching and red pimple-like bumps or hives that usually occur several hours after the chiggers attach to the skin. Chigger bites can affect anyone who might pick chiggers up on their clothing outdoors in grassy, wet, or wooded areas. Common areas where chiggers bite include the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds. To prevent chigger bites, it is recommended to avoid outdoor areas that are known to be contaminated with chiggers and to apply bug spray containing DEET to skin and clothing.