Itch Mite (or Scabies Mite)

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, males are smaller.

Itch Mite (or Scabies Mite)

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer of skin) of humans and various animals.

Diet & Feeding

The mites feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid by burrowing beneath the surface.

Behavior Patterns

Mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and move to the surface before creating new burrows. They are typically transmitted through prolonged direct skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and skin rashes. While not life-threatening, it can lead to secondary bacterial infections from scratching. There are no ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 1/13/2026