Chiggers

Oh, the natural beauty and of course the Southern ambiance of moss filled trees and paths lined with overhanging branches. So picturesque, so soothing to the spirit … I think I’ll stop for the night. Look at all this natural bedding … so nice, so soft, so easy to pile up and sleep on. You will only make this mistake ONCE. Spanish Moss is a great cushion for making your tent floor softer; the nice sleep you’ll enjoy with your sleeping bag raised up a bit off the tree roots is a welcome relief from the rib pokers … good ideas all but utilize this simple tip; Spanish Moss that is lying on the ground -> is riddled with tiny flesh boring bugs called chiggers. Just picking it up and packing it under your gear will leave you awake most of the night scratching yourself silly. Chiggers aren’t deadly but next to deer flies they are the most irritating little buggers on the planet. Pull your Spanish Moss from the trees before you use it for bedding or tinder to start your fire. Chiggers haven’t evolved to the point of learning to climb trees … they are ground dwellers only – they infest Spanish Moss that is on the ground and multiply into the kazillions. A common misconception among folks is that the Spanish Moss is the culprit and you need to leave it alone at all costs. That is simply not true, although it is not edible, many folks boil it up into a tea; not to drink but instead cool the water and use it in their gardens and on their potted plants and air plants like bromeliads and orchids. Its a natural fertilizer. You may occasionally see a horse nibbling on it much like a dog will eat grass … it may serve some digestive function but it is not fit for human consumption. Pulled from the low hanging branches of an old water oak it will make for some great padding under your tent and on a cold night up in the panhandle of Florida you can use it to stuff your sleeping bag for warmth. Just don’t pick it up off the ground.

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