Itch mite / Scabies mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes; Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
Found exclusively within the skin of human hosts (and some other mammals), specifically in the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on dissolved skin cells and extracellular fluid found within the burrows they create in the skin.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the outer layer of skin to lay eggs; they are nocturnal, with peak activity and movement occurring at night, which often triggers intense itching.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense allergic reactions, severe itching, and potential secondary bacterial skin infections (like impetigo) from scratching; there are no known benefits to the ecosystem or the host.
Identified on: 1/13/2026