Human Itch Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiforms, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long.

Human Itch Mite

Natural Habitat

The epidermis (outer layer of skin) of human hosts; spread through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.

Diet & Feeding

Burrows into the skin to feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin to live and deposit eggs, causing the condition known as scabies. They are nocturnal and most active at night.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. Secondary bacterial infections (like impetigo) can occur from scratching. They provide no ecosystem benefits and are considered parasitic pests.

Identified on: 1/11/2026