Sarcoptes scabiei

Sarcoptes scabiei (/sɑːrˈkɒptiːz ˈskeɪbiːaɪ/; sar-KOP-teez SKAY-bee-eye) or the itch mite is a parasitic mite found in all parts of the world that burrows into skin and causes scabies. Humans become infested by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, which is a particular public health problem in crowded settings such as care homes, schools, refugee camps, prisons, and hospitals. Other mammals can be infested with different varieties of the mite, including wild and domesticated dogs and cats (in which it is one cause of mange), ungulates, wild boars, bovids, wombats, koalas, and great apes.

Human scabies mite seen under an optical microscope (x20)