Scabies Mite (Itch Mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are 0.30–0.45 mm long and 0.25–0.35 mm wide; males are slightly smaller.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin. They burrow into the upper layer of the skin to live and deposit eggs.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on dissolved human tissues but do not feed on blood.
Behavior Patterns
Female mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs, creating tiny, raised, serpentine lines (burrows). The larvae hatch in 3-4 days and move to the skin surface to mature. They are most active at night, which correlates with increased itching.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Highly contagious and causes intense itching (pruritus), especially at night, and a pimple-like skin rash. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial skin infections like impetigo. Not beneficial to humans or ecosystems.
Identified on: 2/17/2026