Scabies Mite (or Sarcoptes Scabiei)

Burrows beneath the skin of humans and other mammals; they thrive in the epidermis.

Feeds on human skin cells and fluids within the burrows they excavate.

Females tunnel into the upper layer of the skin (stratum corneum) to lay eggs. This burrowing causes intense itching, especially at night. They complete their life cycle (egg, larva, nymph, adult) entirely on the host.

Risks: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by severe itching and a pimple-like rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial skin infections (like Staph or Strep). Benefits: None to humans or ecosystems, they are strictly parasitic.