BITE-COUNT EVALUATION OF THE REPELLENCY OF N,N-DIETHYL-3-METHYLBENZAMIDE TO LARVAL EUTROMBICULA-ALFREDDUGESI (ACARI, TROMBICULIDAE)

Larvae of the pest chigger mite Eutrombicula alfreddugesi Oudemans, 1910, exhibited a low repellent threshold for NN-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet) in a field setting. Use of a deet-based repellent significantly reduced chigger mite infestation. Efficacy of aerosol formulations was significantly diminished with 9% (AI) deet E. alfreddugesi utilized both direct and indirect paths to infest the human body. Direct infestation led to the highest body region bite counts. Distribution of E. alfreddugesi bites over 15 regions of the human body fell into three zones of decreasing parasitism: the ankle/calf region (accessed through direct infestation); the groin, chest, back, armpits, and feet (accessed through indirect infestation); and the thighs, arms, buttocks, head, and neck, which were infrequently attacked or were unavailable to E. alfreddugesi.