Stuff You Should Know Selects: Chiggers: The Phantom Menace
Jun 25, 2022
What are chiggers, and why are they the ultimate outdoor party crashers? These tiny arachnids, more annoying than mosquitoes, deliver itchy bites that can ruin anyone's day. Dive into their quirky life cycle and discover the truth behind common myths while enjoying humorous tales about their interactions with humans. The hosts also blend in health tips for expectant mothers and light-hearted anecdotes about feeding habits, making for an entertaining and informative listen. Perfect for anyone who wants to conquer the outdoors without the pesky itch!
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Chigger Biology
- Chiggers are arachnids, not insects, and are the larvae of harvest mites.
- They don't burrow or suck blood; they liquefy skin cells with saliva.
Chigger Feeding
- Chiggers create a straw-like structure from your liquefied skin cells called a stylostome.
- They use this stylostome to consume the resulting slurry.
Iman Shumpert Delivers Baby
- Chuck and Josh discuss basketball player Iman Shumpert, who delivered his own child at home.
- This anecdote is tangential to the main topic of chiggers.