Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin, specifically burrowing within the stratum corneum.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and extracellular fluid found in the burrows they create.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs, which hatch into larvae. They are spread by direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact and can survive only 48-72 hours away from a human host.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. Risks include secondary bacterial infections from scratching; there are no known ecological benefits.
Identified on: 1/11/2026