The six-legged larva of Trombicula species and other members of the family Trombiculidae; a bloodsucking stage of mites that includes the vectors of scrub typhus.
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chig·ger 'chig-ər, 'jig- n
1) CHIGOE (1)
2) a 6-legged mite larva of the family Trombiculidae that sucks the blood of vertebrates and causes intense irritation
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n.
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chig·ger (chigґər) the six-legged red larva of a mite of the family Trombiculidae, which infests many types of vertebrates, especially mammals. Chiggers attach to the skin of their hosts and their bites produce a wheal, usually with severe itching and dermatitis (trombiculiasis). Their habitat is tall grass and underbrush. Eutrombicula alfreddugиsi is the common chigger of the United States; E. splendens is found in the southeastern United States; and Trombicula autumnalis is a common European species. Some species in the East Asia–Pacific region are vectors of the rickettsiae of scrub typhus. The chigger is not the same as the chigoe (q.v.). Called also bкte rouge, harvest bug or mite, red bug or mite, and mower's mite.Medical dictionary. 2011.