Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

Human skin (epidermis)

Diet & Feeding

Skin cells (keratin) and tissue fluid, burrowing into the stratum corneum to feed and lay eggs.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the outer layer of the skin, creating serpiginous (wavy or snake-like) tunnels where she lays 2-3 eggs per day for her 30-day lifespan. Larvae hatch from eggs in 3-4 days, mature into nymphs, and then into adults within 10-17 days, often migrating to the skin surface. Mites are typically more active at night.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes scabies, an intensely itchy skin infestation that can lead to secondary bacterial infections from scratching. Transmitted through prolonged direct skin-to-skin contact. No known benefits.

Identified on: 9/6/2025