Itch Mite (Scabies Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
Human skin, specifically within the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the epidermis).
Diet & Feeding
Dissolved skin cells and extracellular fluid.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. They are highly contagious and spread through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include scabies (an intense itchy skin rash), secondary bacterial infections from scratching, and social stigma. There are no known benefits to humans or the ecosystem.
Identified on: 2/17/2026