Human Itch Mite

Scientific Name: Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis

Order & Family: Order Sarcoptiformes, Family Sarcoptidae

Size: Microscopic; females are approximately 0.30 to 0.45 mm long, males are about half that size.

Human Itch Mite

Natural Habitat

Burrows exclusively within the upper layer (stratum corneum) of human skin.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on human skin cells and extracellular fluid.

Behavior Patterns

The female mite burrows into the skin to lay eggs. They are spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with an infested person.

Risks & Benefits

Causes Scabies, a highly contagious skin infestation characterized by intense itching and a pimple-like rash. Secondary bacterial infections can occur from scratching.

Identified on: 3/3/2026