DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — If you thought problems with pesky cicadas were gone, guess again. It now appears people are getting bites and rashes from a mite which feeds on cicada eggs.
The Oak Leaf Itch Mite is the culprit. They were first detected in Illinois in 2007 in the Chicago area during a previous cicada emergence. The mites were also found in Kansas back in 2004.
The mites are extremely small and difficult to see. The bites can last from days to a couple of weeks. You can get the bites working in your yard or raking leaves. Ken Johnson at the University of Illinois Extension suggests when your yard work is finished, remove your clothes and shower or bathe.
It’s not clear how long the mites will last. However, the supply of cicada eggs is starting to dry up.
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