What does the nymph of the scabies mite look like? - briefly
The nymph is a translucent, oval mite measuring roughly 0.2–0.3 mm, with eight short legs and a smooth, pale body. Its legs lack the prominent claws characteristic of the adult stage.
What does the nymph of the scabies mite look like? - in detail
The nymphal stage of Sarcoptes scabiei is a translucent, oval form measuring roughly 0.2 mm in length, about half the size of the adult. Its body is smooth, lacking the distinct dorsal ridges seen in mature specimens. The cuticle appears glass‑like, allowing internal structures to be faintly visible under magnification.
Key morphological traits include:
- Shape: Elongated oval, slightly wider at the anterior end.
- Color: Nearly colorless; may exhibit a faint yellowish hue due to gut contents.
- Appendages: Four pairs of short, unsegmented legs situated near the anterior margin; each leg ends in a small claw used for clinging to host skin.
- Mouthparts: Reduced chelicerae that are not yet fully functional for tissue penetration.
- Setae: Sparse, fine sensory hairs distributed sparsely across the dorsal surface.
- Gastrointestinal tract: Visible as a faint central line, indicating ongoing feeding activity.
Under light microscopy, the nymph’s transparent exoskeleton permits observation of developing internal organs, while electron microscopy reveals the fine structure of the leg claws and cuticular layers. These characteristics distinguish the immature form from both the egg and the adult mite, facilitating accurate identification in clinical and laboratory settings.