Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are about half that size.

Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (upper layer) of human skin, specifically burrowed into the stratum corneum.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on dissolved human tissue and lymph while burrowing in the skin, but does not feed on blood.

Behavior Patterns

These mites are obligate parasites that burrow into the top layer of skin to lay eggs. This burrowing causes an intense allergic reaction and severe itching, which often worsens at night. They are transmitted primarily through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: High. They cause Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) can occur due to scratching open sores. They provide no ecosystem benefits and are strictly parasitic to humans.

Identified on: 2/24/2026