Human Itch Mite (Scabies Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are typically 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide, while males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (upper layer) of human skin. They are obligate parasites and cannot survive for long (usually less than 3 days) away from a human host.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on dissolved human tissue and skin cells while burrowing through the epidermis, but do not drink blood.
Behavior Patterns
Female mites burrow into the upper layer of the skin to lay eggs, creating serpentine tunnels (burrows). The larvae hatch in 3-4 days and move to the skin surface to mature. The primary symptom is intense itching, which worsens at night, due to an allergic reaction to mite proteins and feces.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Highly contagious skin infestation causing intense itching (pruritus) and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo or Staphylococcus aureus. Benefits: None.
Identified on: 2/7/2026