Bug Identifier
Itch Mite or Scabies Mite
Community identification

Itch Mite or Scabies Mite

Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family
Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size
Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found exclusively within the skin of humans and other mammals; they do not live in the external environment for long periods.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on the cells and fluids of the host's skin tissue.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin (the stratum corneum) to lay eggs. This burrowing causes an allergic reaction and intense itching.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by severe itching and a pimple-like rash. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem; they are obligate parasites.