Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.30 - 0.45 mm long for females; males are roughly half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis of human skin, specifically the stratum corneum.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and extracellular fluid.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; they are most active at night and spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and rashes; can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo if skin is broken by scratching.
Identified on: 1/1/2026