Scabies Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei)
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 slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (upper layer) of human skin. They burrow into the skin to live and deposit eggs.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on dissolved human tissue, but do not feed on blood.
Behavior Patterns
These mites are obligate parasites that burrow into the stratum corneum of the skin. The female creates a burrow to lay eggs, which causes the characteristic intense itching (pruritus), especially at night. The life cycle from egg to adult takes about 10-14 days.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: They cause Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by severe itching and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo. There are no ecosystem benefits as they are strictly parasitic to humans and animals.
Identified on: 2/7/2026