Thrombiculids are small red mites that can cause big problems, especially if they bite you. While these insect bites aren't usually dangerous, they can itch a lot and hurt. Read on if you want to get rid of thrombiculids before they bite.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Natural Remedies for Your Garden
Step 1. Mow your lawn regularly and reduce tall vegetation
Brambles, weeds, and tall grass are great hiding places for thrombiculids. Weeding and keeping grass low is a simple but effective way to get rid of these insects that live in your garden.
- By removing these elements, you will remove the shade and humidity that thrombiculids like so much. Sunlight and good air circulation provide an unpleasant environment for these insects.
- You should also regularly prune trees, bushes, and other vegetation to reduce humidity around these plants and allow more sunlight to filter through.
- Keep following these practices throughout the year. Hibernating thrombiculids can return when the weather improves, so to get rid of them permanently, you'll need to make the environment as inhospitable as possible.
Step 2. Keep animals that can bring thrombiculids into your garden away
Reptiles, amphibians and small matches are the favorite prey of these insects. Keeping these animals away from your garden can help keep insects away as well, which will instinctively follow their food sources.
- Remove water sources that attract reptiles and amphibians.
- Removing dense foliage and bushes can keep small mammals away that might use these areas as hiding places.
- Secure the lid of the litter boxes and install a fence around the perimeter of the garden.
Step 3. Sprinkle some diatomaceous earth
If you need a natural, organic pesticide to combat severe thrombiculide infestations, you can apply diatomaceous earth to keep these insects and other pests away from your garden.
- It is a natural product formed by a soft sedimentary rock. You will find it in the form of a fine white powder.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your garden and other areas that may offer the best conditions for thrombiculids. These areas include those with thick vegetation or those that offer good shelter, shade and humidity. Focus on the grass, weeds, and brambles.
Method 2 of 3: Preventive and Natural Solutions for Your Skin
Step 1. Avoid tall grass
If you are walking in a park, picnic area, or other place where you cannot control the length of the grass, you should avoid areas with tall vegetation and stay on the most used routes.
- Avoid uncut fields and walk in the middle of cut paths to avoid accidentally coming into contact with taller vegetation.
- Thrombiculids need vegetation that can hide them and offer them shade and moisture to thrive. Tall vegetation is the perfect habitat, which is why you should avoid it.
Step 2. Keep your skin covered
If you have no choice and need to enter an open area with tall vegetation, you should prevent the thrombiculid attack by covering the skin as much as possible. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and high boots.
You should also prefer tightly woven fabrics over loosely woven ones. Thrombiculids are small enough to be able to pass through the gaps between the threads of the fabric, but they will not be able to do so in the case of tight weave
Step 3. Close all the openings of your clothes
Thrombiculids can find their way to your skin by jumping on your clothes and crawling under them. To get rid of them before that happens, you should seal all openings as well as possible.
- Slip your socks into your pants or your pants into your socks, sealing the opening between them.
- If you venture into tall grass, you can tighten the sleeves of the shirt with rubber bands or tape.
- If possible, prefer garments with zip closures to those with buttons.
Step 4. Sprinkle some sulfur powder on your socks and shoes
Some strong smells, including sulfur dust, can keep thrombiculides away. Sprinkle a fine coating of sulfur powder into your shoes and socks to keep these insects out of your feet.
- For even better protection, you can sprinkle some sulfur powder on the inside of the shirt and pants as well.
- Note that sulfur powder has a powerful smell, and is not an ideal solution if you have a very sensitive sense of smell.
Step 5. Brush exposed skin every 30 minutes if you are outdoors
Although thrombiculids bite into exposed skin, they don't necessarily attach themselves immediately after coming into contact with it. Quickly brushing the exposed skin on your arms and legs every half hour can help you get rid of bugs crawling on you.
For the same reason, brush your clothes too
Step 6. Avoid sitting or lying on the floor
Although thrombiculids are not often found in areas with low grass, if this grass is found near taller vegetation, you should avoid sitting or lying on it. Thrombiculids can migrate to these areas, and exposing the skin on the neck and face may invite these insects to bite you.
Step 7. Take a shower with warm soapy water after returning
If you have been outdoors in an area often infested with thrombiculids, you should take a hot bath or shower immediately after returning.
- To ensure the extermination of insects, you should lather and rinse yourself several times during the shower. The water must also be hot and not lukewarm.
- Rub your skin vigorously with a towel to remove any thrombiculids that may have stuck to your skin.
- If these insects have attached themselves, then later you will have to deal with the effects of their bite. The itching associated with thrombiculid bites can be relieved temporarily with benzocaine ointments, hydrocortisone creams, and calamine lotions. You may also be able to reduce itching with petroleum jelly, baby oil, or nail polish.
Step 8. Wash your clothes in hot water
If you suspect that you may have been exposed to thrombiculids when you were outdoors, you can get rid of the bugs that are hiding in your clothes by washing them in hot water and detergent.
- The water must reach at least 50 ° C.
- The washing cycle should last at least 30 minutes to ensure the extermination of insects.
- After washing your clothes, you can dry them in a dryer or in the sun.
- Do not wear thrombiculid-infested clothing before washing. Do not wash them in cold water, as it will not kill the bugs.
Method 3 of 3: Chemical Repellents and Insecticides
Step 1. Use a repellent that contains diethyltoluamide (DEET)
DEET is one of the most effective insect repellents, particularly against thrombiculids and other mites. Apply repellent to exposed skin, especially hands, arms and legs.
- DEET treatments can last two to three hours.
- Do not spray DEET near the eyes or mouth.
- Do not spray DEET on skin covered with clothing, as it may cause irritation.
- Follow the package directions carefully when applying it. Some repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted surfaces.
- If an allergic reaction occurs, you will need emergency medical attention.
Step 2. Try permethrin treatments for your clothing
Permethrin repellents (0.5%) are very useful against thrombiculides, but you should only use them on clothing and not directly on the skin.
- Permethrin repellents can last for several days after their application and stay on your clothes even after you wash them once or twice. In fact, it is recommended to treat the garments one day before wearing them.
- Apply repellent to both sides of your clothing, focusing on openings like cuffs, collars and around the waist. Let the repellent dry before putting on your clothes.
- Follow package directions carefully when applying repellent. As with DEET, some permethrin repellents can damage clothing, plastics, nail polish, and painted surfaces.
- If an allergic reaction occurs, you will need emergency medical attention.
Step 3. Look for an insecticide that contains bifentrin, cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate, chlorpyrifos, diazinonbifentrin, carbaryl, cyhalothrin, or permethrin
Insecticides that contain any of these substances will be able to eliminate thrombiculides, but you should read the information on the package carefully to understand if an insecticide is specific for fighting aphids.
- When applying a thrombiculide insecticide, you should only treat the areas most at risk and not the whole area. This is a cheaper, faster and usually more effective solution.
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Identify popular spots by placing small squares of black construction paper in the grass. Wait a few minutes and look for red or yellow thrombiculids. If you notice any, you can consider the area haunted.
Repeat the test in 10-12 locations and focus on the areas that provide an ideal habitat for these insects. Weeds, tall grass, dead leaves, and brambles are the best areas, but you should consider all areas of your garden shaded and moist
- Follow the application instructions carefully. Wear protective clothing to prevent the insecticide from coming into contact with your skin or eyes when you apply it.
- Note that you may need to reprocess the area two to three weeks later if your garden is infested with a lot of insects.
- Note that spray liquid insecticides are more effective than granular ones. If you decide to use a granular one, make sure it contains bifentrin.
Step 4. Call an insect control professional
If preventative measures, natural remedies and chemical home remedies have not helped you to get rid of the thrombiculid problem, contact a professional exterminator for help.
- Insect control professionals are allowed to use more potent chemicals, which are dangerous but effective. An exterminator, for example, will often use propoxur, cyfluthrin, or fluvalinate to rid your garden of thrombiculids.
- Stay away from the areas receiving the treatment until it has dried. Also prevent children and pets from walking in those areas.
- Even using these powerful chemicals, you may need to treat the area again two to three weeks later if the infestation is severe enough.
