
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
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