Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis of human skin; they thrive in warm, moist areas of the body such as skin folds.
Diet & Feeding
The mites feed on skin cells (keratinocytes) and extracellular fluid as they burrow.
Behavior Patterns
The mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin to live and deposit eggs. It is primarily transmitted through prolonged, direct, skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Untreated infestations can lead to secondary bacterial skin infections like impetigo or cellulitis.
Identified on: 1/11/2026