Scabies Mite (Burrow)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; adult females are 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The mite lives entirely on human skin, burrowing into the upper layer (stratum corneum) to live and deposit eggs.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and lymph fluid found within the epidermis.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin, creating a serpiginous (snake-like) tunnel where she lays eggs. The burrows are often visible as thin, raised lines. They are most active at night, which corresponds with increased itching.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Causes intense itching (pruritus), especially at night, and a pimple-like skin rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections like impetigo or cellulitis. Highly contagious through direct skin-to-skin contact. No environmental benefits.
Identified on: 2/18/2026