Scabies Mite (or Itch Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin, specifically burrowing into the stratum corneum.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on dissolved human tissue and lymph fluid within the burrows they excavate inside the skin.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs (2-3 per day). The burrows often appear as tiny, raised, serpentine lines. The life cycle from egg to adult takes some 10-14 days. They are most active at night, which correlates with intense itching.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Highly contagious skin infestation causing intense itching (pruritus), especially at night, and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections (e.g., impetigo, Staphylococcus aureus). Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem; they are obligate parasites.
Identified on: 2/17/2026