Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide. Males are slightly smaller.

Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin, particularly in areas like between fingers, wrists, elbows, armpits, and the genital area.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on dissolved human tissue and lymph while burrowing through the skin.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs, creating characteristic tunnel-like tracks (burrows). The larvae hatch in 3-4 days and move to the skin surface to mature. The primary symptom is intense nocturnal itching caused by an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and waste.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Highly contagious and causes scabies, a skin condition characterized by severe itching and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections (like Staph or Strep) can occur from scratching. Benefits: None; it is a parasitic pest.

Identified on: 2/22/2026