Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The upper layer of human skin (epidermis), where it lives and breeds.
Diet & Feeding
The mites feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid found in the burrows they create in the skin.
Behavior Patterns
Pregnant females burrow into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and move to the skin surface to mature. They are primary pests transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo or cellulitis.
Identified on: 6/8/2026