chiggers!

We've got a lot of them in my yard, I think.  Every time we go out to work on the yard at all, my son & I get lots of chigger bites that itch like crazy!

I've done some reading & I see that as soon as we come in, we should take a shower & change clothes.

I learned that humans are not the preferred host - they prefer reptiles & amphibians.  Hmmm... should I transplant some turtles into our yard?!?

I also read about pennyroyal (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0005/ai_2603000582):

American pennyroyal is an annual mint with small, oval leaves arranged opposite each other on a square stem. Leaves are entire and may be sparsely-toothed or smooth on the margins. The erect stems grow to one foot high from a many-branched root system. The tiny blue-violet flowers grow in whorls from the leaf axils on the top half of the stems. The fragrant herb blossoms in midsummer. The entire plant exudes a strong, acrid aroma and has a mint flavor. The scent is offensive to fleas, chiggers, mosquitoes, and other irritating insects.

I guess I'll look into planting that...

Any other prevention ideas?

This could be total nonsense, but my great-grandmother used to swear that if you will place a thin coat of clear nail polish to your bite, it will make the itching stop. 

The best way I have found to control chiggers is to cut your yard real short at least for one season. They thrive in the tall grass.

We don't have as much trouble with chiggers as we do with no-see-ums.

Chiggers are very tiny and nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

No-see-ums are also very tiny but can be seen if you look closely, they are tiny black specks. Their bite can be felt and will itch for quite some time afterwards.

A quick shower or a dip in the creek has been effective at providing relief.

Jewel Weed aka Touch Me Not, can be effective at relieving the itch as well. also effective at relieving the symptoms of poison oak/ivy as well. Simply crush the leaves and stems and rub the juice on the affected area.

Here are a couple of links, the first is on chiggers the second is no-see-ums
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/chiggers/
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/aquatic/biting_midges.htm

This is a picture of Jewel Weed