Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiforms, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis of human skin; they survive only 2-3 days away from a human host.
Diet & Feeding
The mites feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid by burrowing into the stratum corneum.
Behavior Patterns
Mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs. Symptoms (scabies) are an allergic reaction to the mites, their eggs, and their waste. They spread through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections can occur from scratching. Benefits: None to the ecosystem or humans.
Identified on: 3/9/2026