Community identification
Itch Mite
Sarcoptes scabiei
- Order & Family
- Order Sarcoptiformes, Family Sarcoptidae
- Size
- Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are half that size.
Natural Habitat
Burrows exclusively within the human stratum corneum (the outermost layer of human skin).
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and extracellular fluid.
Behavior Patterns
Life cycle occurs entirely on the host. Female mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and move to the skin surface to mature into adults before mating and re-burrowing.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation. Risks include intense itching (often worse at night), rashes, and potential secondary bacterial skin infections from scratching. There are no ecological benefits to humans.