Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

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

Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outermost layer) where they burrow.

Diet & Feeding

Dissolved skin cells and extracellular fluid found in the burrows they create.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs, which hatch into larvae in 3-4 days. They are most active at night, causing intense itching. They spread via direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching (allergic reaction to mites/feces), secondary skin infections from scratching, and highly contagious infestations (scabies). There are no known benefits.

Identified on: 4/26/2026