[Timtheman]

Does anyone out there have a real, lasting solution, to ridding your property of those bugs called chiggers you can't see but will eat you alive? How do you get rid of them once and for all? Thanks!

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Timtheman

Does anyone out there have a real, lasting solution, to ridding your property of those bugs called chiggers you can't see but will eat you alive? How do you get rid of them once and for all? Thanks!

The cheapest effective way is to go to a farm supply or feed store, and buy "field grade" sulphur.

In food grade, this is the same stuff they label as "MSM" in yer fancy health-food stores.

Anyhow, field grade sulpher is cheap, I think I gave 12 or 13 dollars for 50 pounds of it the last time I bought it, and this is what it's for....debugging.

Put it in a broadcast spreader, and go to town.

This is actually a "green" solution, but has been around a *long* time before the tree huggers came around. Obviously, in livestock areas, you don't want harmful stuff in there, and you also don't want the ticks and such around, ergo sulphur.

You can also fill an old sock with the stuff, and smack it around your clothes before going in the woods. Or on your dog. Or on your spouse. Whatever company you choose.

The food grade..."MSM"....is touted by the supplement crowd for many ailments, but I know a lot of folks that work regularly through the summer in the brush and woods, and they take it orally, and don't get ticks.

They don't go to GNC to get it, just the feed store and get "food grade". It's more expensive, around $18-19 for 50 pounds the last time I bought it.

On the internet, bulk runs about $18 a pound.....do the math.

MSM is just the abbreviation for methylsulfonylmethane (pretty good for a hillbilly), which is......sulphur.

I don't use chemicals, except 2,4-D in the spring for my overgrown brush after bush hogging, so I follow my neighbors and use sulphur.

*Anything* that you use, including poisins, will have to be occasionally reapplied.

Hope that helps.

[GetmeoutofAR]

dont walk in the weeds or woods

[RTTNFAM]

What RogMar said! I have not ever tried the sulphur but I have been told by many that it works great! I wonder though if it works for ants as well? We are having a big ant problem ever since we got all that rain from those lovely tropical storms.

I am also convinced that getmeoutofAR's advice works well!

[Bull Winkus]

Wasn't too long ago we had a thread going on this topic. Here's a link if you would like to read all the interesting posts on the subject.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/arkan...-chiggars.html

I like RogMar inexpensive idea the best for now. I can't wait to try it for myself. Just reading this thread talking 'bout 'em makes me itch.

[Timtheman]

RogMar,

I want to thank you a lot for your advice. It sounds like the safest, cheapest, and best way to go. Do you know how long it lasts per application? Thanks!

I'll try to stay out of the woods, but my front lawn is bad enough! Thanks guys.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Timtheman

RogMar,

I want to thank you a lot for your advice. It sounds like the safest, cheapest, and best way to go. Do you know how long it lasts per application? Thanks!

I'll try to stay out of the woods, but my front lawn is bad enough! Thanks guys.

Yer welcome.

I would think it would last through a couple of rainstorms. A big rain event could probably wipe it out. Gotta remember, if you dust the yard, and it sits for a few days, the bugs are gonna wanto to get out of town real quick, and even if the sulpher is all gone, they're not going to be in a hurry to come back.

Keeping grass cut helps a lot too.

I hate chiggars and ticks, like everybody else (Ya think PETA hates chiggars?)

We don't shy away from the woods, and have picked up a couple of ticks over the long run, but at least with a tick you can pull it off, flush it, and that's it, other than watching for a "bulls-eye".

With chiggars, they're long gone by the time you find that you've been bit, and the itch will drive you nuts for a week.

Worse I ever got hit, I fed/watered the dogs in a neighbors kennel when they were out of town one day. A lot of weeds/brush around the kennel.

I got up the next day, and it looked like I'd been hit with bird shot on both sides of my torso and my legs.

It severly dimmed the bright life in the Ozarks for a few days.

Now I dust with sulphur before going near them.