Bug Identifier
Face Mite / Demodex Mite (Likely associate; image shows a human forehead and eyebrow area without a clear visible macro insect)
Community identification

Face Mite / Demodex Mite (Likely associate; image shows a human forehead and eyebrow area without a clear visible macro insect)

Demodex folliculorum / Demodex brevis

Order & Family
Trombidiformes, Demodicidae
Size
0.1 mm to 0.4 mm (microscopic)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically inside hair follicles and sebaceous (oil) glands, most commonly on the face, eyelashes, and forehead.

Diet & Feeding

Consumes skin oils (sebum), dead skin cells, and cellular debris.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal microscopic mites that inhabit human skin; they emerge from hair follicles at night to mate before returning to lay eggs.

Risks & Benefits

Usually harmless commensal organisms present on most adult humans. In high populations, they can contribute to skin or eye conditions like rosacea, blepharitis, or eyelash irritation.