Itch Mite or Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

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

Itch Mite or Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outer layer) where they burrow.

Diet & Feeding

Feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid by dissolving them with enzymes.

Behavior Patterns

Females burrow into the skin to lay eggs. The life cycle involves egg, larva, nymph, and adult stages, occurring entirely on the host. Spread primarily through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. No ecological benefit; primary risk is human discomfort and potential secondary skin infections from scratching.

Identified on: 4/4/2026