Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.3 to 0.45 mm for females; males are roughly half that size
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically tunneling within the stratum corneum (outer layer of epidermis)
Diet & Feeding
Living skin cells and extracellular fluid found within the burrow
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; transmission typically occurs through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infested person
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, resulting in intense itching and rashes; no ecological benefits; secondary skin infections can occur from scratching
Identified on: 1/11/2026