Hi - We live in Hillsborough, just south of I40 in the middle of a wooded lot. Every summer, around late May, we begin getting some kind of odd insect bites. From what I have read, they are very much like chigger bites, however, we do not have tall grass and can get bitten just sitting on the porch without even stepping foot in the yard. The bites happen throughout the summer, usually ending in late September. We've never seen what is biting us, and the bites have very distinct characteristics: they take approximately 12 hours to become symptomatic and once that happens, it comes on quickly with an agonizing itch and a burning sensation that feels like your skin is on fire -- and it can last with remarkable intensity for up to two weeks. They leave giant welts, far larger than mosquito bites. And the bites tend to happen in areas akin to where chiggers bite: skin creases -- backs of the knee, waist line, etc. -- but they bite in other places as well (especially back and abdomen). As far as treating the bites, not even prescription strength hydrocortisone or topical lidocaine. No amount of clothing can prevent the bites (in fact, the bites are almost always under clothing). We have tried every sort of insect repellent on the market, even 100% deet, yet none of these things deter them. We've even been getting our yard treated once a month (for the past 3 years) to deter mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers. This doesn't impact these nasty critters at all. The single thing that does seem to repel them is lavender essential oil mixed in witch hazel and sprayed literally all over your skin and clothing -- if you miss a spot, you will get bitten there -- and even this treatment only works for about an hour. Lastly, one more oddity: none of our neighbors or friends in this area -- even people living in similar wooded lots less than a half mile away -- have ever experienced these types of bites. Thank you in advance for any insight you can lend. We're outdoorsy people and this has greatly impacted our lifestyle.