Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.

Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Natural Habitat

Found exclusively on human skin, specifically burrowing into the stratum corneum (outer layer) of the epidermis.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on dissolved skin cells and extracellular fluid using proteolytic enzymes.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay 2-3 eggs per day. They are most active at night. Transmission occurs through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching, skin rash (scabies), and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching. There are no ecological benefits as they are obligate parasites.

Identified on: 6/27/2026