Human Itch Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

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

Human Itch Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin, specifically burrowing into the stratum corneum

Diet & Feeding

Dissolved skin cells and inflammatory fluid caused by the mite’s burrowing activity

Behavior Patterns

Mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs; they are most active at night when they move across the skin's surface to mate and create new burrows

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and rashes; can lead to secondary skin infections like impetigo from scratching

Identified on: 3/3/2026