Itch mite / Scabies mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.3 to 0.45 mm long (females), 0.2 to 0.25 mm long (males)
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outer layer) of the epidermis
Diet & Feeding
Skin cells and extracellular fluid found within the tunnels they burrow in human skin
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; larvae emerge and migrate to the skin surface to mature and mate.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and rashes; no known benefits as they are parasitic organisms.
Identified on: 1/11/2026