What do scabies mites feed on? - briefly
Scabies mites consume human skin cells and the serous fluid that leaks from their burrows, feeding on the epidermal tissue of the host. Their diet consists exclusively of keratinized skin layers and associated exudates, providing the nutrients required for growth and reproduction.
What do scabies mites feed on? - in detail
Scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) are obligate ectoparasites that obtain nutrition exclusively from the host’s skin. The parasite penetrates the stratum corneum and creates a tunnel in which it resides and feeds.
The primary nutritional intake consists of:
- Viable epidermal cells scraped from the superficial layers of the stratum corneum.
- Intercellular fluid containing proteins, lipids, and electrolytes.
- Small amounts of host plasma that leak into the tunnel from damaged capillaries.
Feeding occurs continuously during the night, with each mite ingesting minute quantities of tissue and fluid at intervals of 30–60 minutes. The ingestion process involves a rasping action of the mite’s mouthparts, followed by suction of the dissolved cellular contents.
The metabolic demands of the adult female, which can lay up to 30 eggs, are met by this steady intake of epidermal material. Juvenile stages (larvae and nymphs) consume proportionally less, reflecting their smaller size and shorter developmental periods.
The exclusive reliance on host skin tissue explains the mite’s strict host specificity and the rapid onset of clinical symptoms when the feeding activity disrupts the epidermal barrier.