Bug Identifier
Itch mite
Community identification

Itch mite

Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family
Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size
0.30 - 0.45 mm for females; males are roughly half that size
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically the epidermis

Diet & Feeding

Survives on human skin cells and extracellular fluid

Behavior Patterns

Burrows into the upper layer of skin to live and deposit eggs, causing an allergic reaction and intense itching

Risks & Benefits

Causes scabies, a contagious skin infestation; no known benefits to the ecosystem