Community identification
Scabies Mite
Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
- Order & Family
- Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
- Size
- Microscopic; females are typically 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (upper layer) of human skin, particularly in folds and webs of fingers, wrists, elbows, and genitals.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on dissolved human tissue and lymph fluid within the burrows it creates in the skin.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin (stratum corneum) to lay eggs. This burrowing activity usually occurs at night. The eggs hatch into larvae in 3-4 days, which then migrate to the skin surface to mature.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo or staph. Benefits: none to humans.