Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are roughly 0.3-0.45 mm long and 0.25-0.35 mm wide, while males are slightly smaller.

Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

The mite lives within the skin of humans, specifically burrowing into the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis).

Diet & Feeding

They feed on human skin cells and lymphatic fluid found within the layers of the skin.

Behavior Patterns

Females burrow into the skin to lay eggs (2-3 per day), creating tunnnel-like tracks usually found on hands, wrists, elbows, or genital areas. The life cycle from egg to adult takes about two weeks.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Highly contagious and causes intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like Staphylococcus aureus or impetigo. Benefits: None.

Identified on: 2/17/2026