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.
Natural Habitat
The burrows of the human stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin). They are obligate parasites that live their entire life cycle on humans.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid by dissolving it with enzymes while burrowing.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay 2–3 eggs per day. They are most active at night, which coincides with when the itching sensation is typically most intense.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Causes scabies, a contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Untreated, it can lead to secondary skin infections like impetigo. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem.
Identified on: 3/11/2026