Human Itch Mite / Scabies

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae

Size: 0.3 to 0.45 mm for females; males are half that size

Human Itch Mite / Scabies

Natural Habitat

Human skin, specifically the stratum corneum (outer layer)

Diet & Feeding

Dissolved skin cells and inflammatory fluids

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and move to the surface to mature and re-enter the skin through hair follicles.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Highly contagious via skin-to-skin contact. Can lead to secondary bacterial infections from scratching. No ecological benefits to humans.

Identified on: 1/14/2026