by Richard Fagerlund
Scripps Howard News Service
Q: We moved into a new house nearly three years ago and every summer we get chigger bites. They appear to be in the shady side yard and our lawn service sprayed last year but we saw no improvement. They finally said their spray was not really for chiggers. I want to call someone else but don't know if a pest-control company can help or what the best course of action is for us. Can you help with advice on when to spray and what to use? Is there some way to get rid of them once and for all?
A: It is reprehensible for a pest-control company to spray pesticides when they know it isn't labeled for the pest you have. And in many parts of the country it is illegal to misapply chemicals like that.
The only thing that I know of that is effective against chiggers is insecticidal soap. You certainly don't need a pest-control company to apply it. You can buy insecticidal soaps at most garden shops and spray it on affected areas yourself. You may have to do it a couple of times (as the label will probably state), but insecticidal soap is a heck of a lot safer than a self-serving exterminator who has no regard for your property if he is haphazardly applying pesticides that he knows aren't labeled for the pest you have.
(Send questions for Richard Fagerlund to University of New Mexico Environmental Services, Physical Plant Department, 1818 Camino del Servicio N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87131-3500 or e-mail fagerlun@unm.edu.)
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