Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are slightly smaller.

Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (upper layer) of human skin, specifically burrowing within the stratum corneum.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on human skin cells and lymph fluid found within the epidermis.

Behavior Patterns

These mites burrow into the top layer of the skin to live and deposit eggs. The female creates a tunnel (burrow) where she lays eggs, which hatch into larvae after 3-4 days. This activity triggers an intense allergic immune response in the host.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo. Benefits: None known to humans or the ecosystem as they are strictly parasitic.

Identified on: 3/7/2026