Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.30 to 0.45 mm (females), 0.20 to 0.25 mm (males)
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and extracellular fluid (serum) by dissolving the tissue with enzymes.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay 2-3 eggs daily. Mites are typically transmitted through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact and are most active at night.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Risks include secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) from scratching; there are no known ecosystem benefits.
Identified on: 1/14/2026