Community identification
Itch mite
Sarcoptes scabiei
- Order & Family
- Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
- Size
- 0.3–0.45 mm (females), 0.2–0.25 mm (males)
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.