Thanks for your question.

Unfortunately eradication of chiggers is not easily accomplished. As you have discovered, repellents only work for a short period of time. Short of removing the mulch, chiggers will continue to hatch and appear. Keep in mind that if you see the red adults, these ARE NOT what is biting you. The larvae are the biters. They are extremely small and very difficult to see. Your best precaution is to wear tight-fitting clothes, gloves, and a head net.

Chemical control is not recommended. Chemicals don't control them for long and the ones that work with chiggers kill beneficial insects including pollinators.

See:

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/chiggers/

https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7398

https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-34/E-34.html

https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/chiggers

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23267-chigger-bites

Good luck in dealing with them. There really is no “magic potion” that is available to become completely immune from them.

Thanks for consulting with us.

So if the thing to do is to remove the mulch, what is the best way to remove it? if I rake it off and toss it in our woods will that just spread them, or will they not be able to survive a new environment??? Would bagging it be better, but then what?  Is there a place that picks up yard waste??? or a service that will remove mulch??? Once it is gone what needs to happen to get rid of the ones remaining in the soil??? cover it with rocks or what...

Thanks

Thanks for your response and excellent questions.

1). Wearing as much protective clothes as feasible, gather all existing mulch into a large plastic bag. I fully realize that 100% removal may not be possible. Just do the best you can.

2). I would suggest you contact the Carver County Environmental Center. They should be able to advise you about the disposal of the mulch. See:

https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/public-services/environmental-services/environmental-center

3). Even after you get rid of the mulch, expect to still see some adult chiggers. You will just have to be patient about this. Their life span is limited to but a few weeks. Eventually they will disappear, and you will be able to get out into your gardens again.

Good luck and many thanks for using our forum.