Scabies Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Adult females: 0.30 to 0.45 mm long; Males: about half that size.
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outer layer) where they burrow.
Diet & Feeding
Human skin cells and extracellular fluid.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and migrate to the surface to mature and mate before re-burrowing.
Risks & Benefits
Causes intense itching and skin rashes (scabies). Highly contagious through direct skin-to-skin contact. No known ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/10/2026