Human Itch Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.

Human Itch Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer of skin) of humans; they are obligate parasites and cannot survive away from a host for more than 2-3 days.

Diet & Feeding

Dissolved skin cells and inflammatory fluids created by the host's reaction to their presence.

Behavior Patterns

Adult females burrow into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs. They move mostly at night, which often triggers intense nocturnal itching for the host. The life cycle from egg to adult takes about 10-14 days.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, a contagious skin infestation characterized by severe itching and a pimple-like rash. Risks include secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) from scratching. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 6/23/2026