Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order Sarcoptiformes; Family Sarcoptidae
Size: 0.3 to 0.45 mm long (females) and about half that size (males).
Natural Habitat
Specially adapted to live and reproduce within the epidermal layers of human skin.
Diet & Feeding
Eats skin cells and dissolves tissues by secreting enzymes while burrowing.
Behavior Patterns
Adult females burrow into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs; they are obligate parasites and cannot survive off a host for more than 48–72 hours.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and red, pimple-like rashes. It can lead to secondary bacterial infections from scratching. No known benefits.
Identified on: 6/25/2026