Itch Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order Sarcoptiformes, Family Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are half that size.

Itch Mite

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.

Identified on: 3/26/2026