[gavinjconway]

Hi All - my arms and legs get bitten by berry-bugs / chiggers every time I pick berries on my plot. I have 30 rasp plants, 6 currant bushes and a damson at the bottom of my plot and whenever I work in the area or pick berries I get eaten alive..

I want to spray them before they get a chance to hibernate in the ground for winter.   I assume I need to spray with an insecticide of some sort but dont know what class or type of bug they are. No info on any bottles in our GC's have berry-bugs mentioned..

Any suggestions out there?

[Salmo]

I presume these are harvest mites, which are mites. I doubt if you will find an insectacide with a label approval to control them.

If you google them you may be able to find out something about their life cycle, where they lay their eggs, how they spend the Winter etc. That may give you some clues how to lessen their numbers or how to avoid getting bitten.

[Salmo]

Did you see the piece on Countryfile this evening. They suspect there is a connection between harvest mite bites and dogs being ill or even dying after they have been for a walk in forests.

[gavinjconway]

I didn't see it and thanks for the heads up. I'll look for the prog online.  They do seem like they are harvest mites..