004 to 0.6 in. (0.1-16 mm). Some are terrestrial; others live in freshwater or salt water. They may be predators, scavengers, or plant feeders, and some are pests of humans, either as parasites or as carriers of disease. In North America, the common chigger that attacks humans is found from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and Mexico. The larva penetrates clothing and, once attached to the skin, injects a fluid that digests tissue and causes severe itching. After feeding, the larva drops to the ground and begins to mature
In US slang, the word Chigger (also pronounced "chigga") is a derogatory slang term for an East Asian person who behaves in ways similar to a stereotypical urban African American. The term is a portmanteau of Chinese or chink and nigger, derived from the term "wigger" (White + nigger), which refer to White Westerners who act out urban African American stereotypes
In AUS slang, a derogatory term for a person living in the suburb of Chigwell near Hobart, Tasmania; one who resembles an inhabitant of Chigwell; a person of low socioeconomic background. Closely linked to the term westie, describes the inhabitants of notorious public housing suburbs, including but not limited to: Chigwell, Bridgewater, Gagebrook, Claredon Vale, Rokeby. Implies puffy features, mullet haircut, underage smoking, drinking and sex, teenage pregnancy, nasty attire, poor education, sullen/antisocial behaviour and language. The suburb of Chigwell, despite its pariah status, is within 15 kilometres of the city centre. In recent years the term has been largely replaced with the more universally recognised bogan