Scabies Mite (also known as the Itch Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.3mm to 0.45mm long, while males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (top layer) of human skin, where females burrow to lay eggs. Can survive briefly on clothing, bedding, or furniture.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on dissolved human tissue and skin cells causing an allergic reaction.
Behavior Patterns
Parasitic behavior involves burrowing into the upper layer of the skin to create tunnels where they live and deposit eggs. They spread primarily through prolonged, direct skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Highly contagious and causes intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like skin rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo. Benefits: None.
Identified on: 2/17/2026