Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: 0.3 to 0.45 mm (females); 0.2 to 0.25 mm (males)

Itch mite (Scabies mite)

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outer layer) of the epidermis.

Diet & Feeding

Skin cells and extracellular fluid; they dissolve skin tissue using proteases to feed.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. They are highly contagious and spread through prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, a skin infestation characterized by intense itching and rashes. Can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo if skin is broken by scratching.

Identified on: 2/20/2026