Itch mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: 0.3–0.45 mm (females), 0.2–0.25 mm (males)

Itch mite

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically the upper layers of the epidermis.

Diet & Feeding

Survives on human skin cells and extracellular fluid.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. These burrows appear as thin, wavy, skin-colored or grayish-white lines. The symptoms take 2-6 weeks to develop after initial infestation.

Risks & Benefits

Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching (worse at night) and a pimple-like rash. No ecological benefit to humans.

Identified on: 3/25/2026