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, while males are about half that size.
Natural Habitat
The epidermis (outer layer) of human skin, where it burrows to live and lay eggs.
Diet & Feeding
They feed on skin cells and extracellular fluid found within the burrows they create in the host's skin.
Behavior Patterns
The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs; larvae hatch and move to the skin surface to mature. Transmission occurs through direct, prolonged skin-to-skin contact.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin rashes, and potential secondary bacterial infections from scratching. There are no known ecosystem benefits; they are obligate parasites of humans.
Identified on: 1/11/2026