Human Itch Mite
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; adult females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, while males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis of human skin; they prefer areas with thin skin such as between fingers, wrists, elbows, and the genital area.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on human skin cells and extracellular fluid by dissolving the skin with secretions as they burrow.
Behavior Patterns
Mites burrow into the upper layer of the skin where females lay 2-3 eggs per day. They are largely sedentary once burrowed but can crawl on the skin surface at temperatures above 20°C.
Risks & Benefits
Causes Scabies, a contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Risks include secondary bacterial infections from scratching; there are no known ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/14/2026