Are mites and chiggers the same?

Townsend says that there are many different species of mites, but only a few types that bite during their larval stage. It's these that are referred to as chiggers. “Not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites,” he adds.

What type of mite is a chigger?

Chiggers are the juvenile form of a species of mite that belongs to the Trombiculidae family. They attach themselves to humans and feed on skin cells, which can lead to itching. According to the Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky, these mites commonly attach where the skin is thin, wrinkled, or tender.