What does a scabies mite eat? - briefly
The mite subsists on the host’s skin, consuming epidermal cells and the serous fluid that accumulates in its burrow. Its diet consists exclusively of these cellular and fluid components from the superficial layers of human skin.
What does a scabies mite eat? - in detail
The scabies mite, a microscopic arachnid measuring 0.2–0.4 mm, inhabits the superficial layers of human skin. It resides within burrows it creates in the stratum corneum, where it remains in close contact with the host’s epidermal tissue.
Feeding occurs through a specialized mouthpart called the chelicera, which pierces the skin to access nutrients. The mite’s diet consists of:
- Cytoplasmic contents of keratinocytes (the predominant cells of the outer epidermis)
- Intercellular fluid that bathes the cells, rich in electrolytes and small proteins
- Serum-derived proteins that leak from damaged capillaries in the upper dermis
These substances provide the amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates required for growth, reproduction, and egg production.
The mite feeds several times a day, each bout lasting a few minutes. During a feeding episode, it injects saliva containing proteolytic enzymes that break down host proteins, facilitating rapid ingestion. The extracted material is internalized and processed in a rudimentary digestive tract, where enzymes convert proteins into amino acids and lipids into energy‑rich fatty acids.
Nutrient intake directly influences reproductive output: a well‑fed female can lay up to 30 eggs over a two‑week lifespan, while limited access to host fluids reduces egg production and shortens survival. Consequently, the mite’s reliance on epidermal cells and associated fluids drives the characteristic itching and skin damage observed in infestations.