Itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order Sarcoptiformes, Family Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.30 to 0.45 mm long (females); males are about half that size
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically the stratum corneum (outermost layer)
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on skin cells and extracellular fluid found in the burrow layers
Behavior Patterns
Adult females burrow into the skin to lay eggs. They are microscopic, live for 1-2 months, and are primarily transmitted through direct Skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and red rashes. Highly contagious; no ecological benefits; requires medical treatment to eradicate.
Identified on: 6/3/2026