Itch Mite (Scabies Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Approximately 0.3 to 0.45 mm long (nearly microscopic).
Natural Habitat
The upper layers of human or animal skin, specifically within the stratum corneum.
Diet & Feeding
The mites feed on host skin cells and fluids by dissolving them with enzymes.
Behavior Patterns
The female mites burrow into the skin to deposit eggs. This burrowing activity and the mite's excretions cause an allergic reaction in the host, leading to intense itching and characteristic linear tracks or rash.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, secondary bacterial skin infections (like impetigo) from scratching, and high transmissibility through direct skin-to-skin contact. There are no known benefits to the ecosystem or the host.
Identified on: 12/31/2025