<p>So… OP here with an update. I think I have solved the “bug bite” mystery, and it was not bedbugs (whew!). I was fooled by the fact that chigger bites can take a couple of days to really show up and start to itch. It is definitely chiggers. Several weeks ago I started being very, very careful about how I dressed when I stepped onto the lawn. Long pants (either sweatpants with elastic at the ankles or some hiking pants I have with a toggle that can pull an ankle drawstring tight). And always tucking in my shirt. Socks and tennis shoes (not sandals). Once I started this, I stopped getting bites.</p>
<p>A couple of times I have been too tempted. Moving the sprinkler or walking around with our builder to discuss roofing in shorts. Whammo. Two mornings later I have a ton of bites again. They itch like crazy (have sprung for a couple of boxes of Benedryl allergy already this summer!). But they are NOT bedbug bites. Whew.</p>
<p>I am not sure if it is a weather thing or what. I have only had chigger bites once (I think) since moving to our state 30 years ago, and that was when I sat for a couple of hours in a lawnchair in grass with bare feet. All over my ankles. But I have done yardwork, gardened, etc. for my whole adult life here and not had this problem. So why is it such a big problem this summer? I feel like there must be more chiggers (since my initial encounter with them was several year ago, and I think I would have reacted if there had been more bites over the years).</p>
<p>I am pretty tired of bundling up to walk on my lawn (c’mon, we do that in the WINTER around here, we shouldn’t have to do it in the summer!). But at least I think I solved the problem, and I didn’t have to pay an exterminator.</p>