Itch Mite (Scabies)

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: 0.30 to 0.45 mm long (microscopic)

Itch Mite (Scabies)

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outer layer of epidermis)

Diet & Feeding

Skin cells and extracellular fluid

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. They are highly contagious and spread through prolonged direct skin-to-skin contact.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, a skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. No ecosystem benefits; considered a significant human parasite requiring medical treatment.

Identified on: 3/7/2026