Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, males are half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer of skin) of humans; microscopic burrows within the stratum corneum.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on human skin cells and extracellular fluid by secreting enzymes that dissolve the tissue.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. These eggs hatch in 3-4 days and mature into adults in 10-15 days. They are most active at night and are transmitted through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) can occur from scratching. There are no known ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/11/2026