Scabies Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Sarcoptiformes / Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are slightly smaller.

Scabies Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin. They require a human host to survive and reproduce, burrowing into the stratum corneum.

Diet & Feeding

Tissue fluid and skin cells within the burrowed tunnels of the host's epidermis.

Behavior Patterns

These mites are obligate parasites. Female mites burrow into 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 lifecycle is complete in about 10-17 days.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) can occur due to scratching. Benefits: None; they are strictly parasitic pests.

Identified on: 2/24/2026