redbug

9.9

A tiny mite that bites people and makes their skin very itchy

noun
/ˈrɛdˌbʌg/

: ácaro rojo

Farmers often take precautions to avoid redbug infestations in their fields.

Examples

I found a redbug on my arm.
Many campers complain about the itching caused by redbugs during the summer.
After hiking in the woods, she discovered several redbugs had bitten her ankles.
The redbugs are causing skin irritation.
After spending the day outdoors, he discovered several redbugs on his legs, causing itchy red spots.
The gardener warned that the redbugs might cause severe irritation if they bite.
She checked her skin for redbugs after noticing an uncomfortable rash.

Synonyms

chigger

vsredbug

4 9.9

A tiny red bug whose bite makes the skin very itchy

is specifically the tiny larval mite feeding on blood and irritating skin

jigger

vsredbug

South African

9.9

A tiny creature that burrows into the skin and causes strong itching

is the same small blood-feeding larva often causing intense skin irritation

harvest mite

vsredbug

8.1

A very small baby bug that bites people and makes red itchy bumps on the skin

is the same type but often called by different common names

Trombicula

vsredbug

Specialized

9.9

A small mite whose young, called chiggers, bite skin and cause itchy welts

is the general term for the small blood-feeding larval mites

Trombiculidae

vsredbug

Specialized

9.9

A family of tiny mites whose young bite people and make skin itchy

is the broader common name for the same tiny blood-feeding larvae

Surface Forms

redbug singular

redbugs plural

Morphology

redbug = red + bug (transparent) = red + bug

A straightforward descriptive compound: a 'bug' that is red; the species name is a literal colour + creature compound.

Etymology

Redbug comes from the two simple parts red ('the color red') and bug ('insect' or 'small animal'). These tiny mites are often red and bite people, so the name now means a small mite that feeds on blood and causes itchy bites.