Itch mite (Scabies mite)
Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei
Order & Family: Order: Sarcoptiformes, Family: Sarcoptidae
Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30–0.45 mm long, males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin or various domestic/wild mammals.
Diet & Feeding
Skin cells and extracellular fluid; they burrow into the skin to feed and lay eggs.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the stratum corneum of the skin, creating visible tunnels. They lay eggs that hatch into larvae within 3-4 days and reach adulthood in 10-15 days.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Benefits: None to humans or the ecosystem; purely parasitic.
Identified on: 3/26/2026