Chiggers

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Under a magnification of 100X, this scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology exhibited by a grouping of ham mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae. See PHIL 16855, for a light photomicrograph of a single female ham mite. The ham mite is an agricultural pest, at times, infesting high moisture grain, semi-moist pet foods, cheeses, and dried meats. It is also referred to as the cheese mite, mold mite or copra mite. Their presence is ubiquitous, and with their high rate of reproductive behavior, they are very difficult to control.

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Under a magnification of 100X, this scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image, revealed some of the ultrastructural morphology exhibited by a grouping of ham mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae. See PHIL 16855, for a light photomicrograph of a single female ham mite. The ham mite is an agricultural pest, at times, infesting high moisture grain, semi-moist pet foods, cheeses, and dried meats. It is also referred to as the cheese mite, mold mite or copra mite. Their presence is ubiquitous, and with their high rate of reproductive behavior, they are very difficult to control.

Chiggers are tiny, six-legged wingless larvae that mature to become a type of mite. Chiggers are typically found in tall grass, weeds and the edges of woodlands. Their bite causes severe itching and red pimple-like bumps or hives. Chigger bites can transmit the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi, which causes scrub typhus, a disease without a vaccine. AFRIMS conducts surveillance for chiggers and scrub typhus across Southeast Asia.

The primary department at AFRIMS involved with this research is Entomology. Click here to partner with us.