What scientific name is given to a microscopic mite that can only survive on the skin of humans?

Correct answer: Demodex folliculorum

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What people think about it: 22 Comments
Chris
Chris
What purpose do they serve? In 79yrs I have never heard anything about their very existence!
Tina M.
Tina M.
They sound disgusting and just to know that they exist on people's skin and hair...
BOO 🦋
BOO 🦋
Chris, I’m an esthetician and have known about them all my career. They’re there but you’ll never know it. Sometimes they cause dermatitis inflammation (like flaring up rosacea) but the jury of dermatologists are still out. Pretend you never read that question lol and
Allan
Allan
not heard of them but the way it's explained they sound like NITS
Tom
Tom
Chris, No purpose. Commensalism means, two organisms that live together, one derives benefit, this microorganism, the other, us has neither benefit nor harm. From our point of view they are just there, neither good nor bad.
Chris
Chris
What purpose do they serve? In 79yrs I have not known at all about their very resistance!
Sanak
Sanak
Chris, No purpose, they are just present in the skin. The human version of D. follicular rarely causes problems , but the canine version causes mange in dogs.
Player #119530601
Player #119530601
I absolutely could have gone my entire life being ignorant of the existence of "D's"...😆😂but seriously 😩😕😩😩😆😆😄🥴😏
Hunger Knowledge
Hunger Knowledge
This kind of information can cause another phibonia..the fear 😨 of your own skin
April
April
Biological/Mojo, skibbidi riZz
Lisa
Lisa
POMPIS, They may even take your phone when you're sleeping and send rude messages to people! Be careful!! Lol Yeah, they sound gross!!
Biological/Mojo
Biological/Mojo
BOO 🦋, Yeah you're correct it's a dermatology condition it's called scabies
Player #107789144
Player #107789144
cheena71, YEAH!!!! Me, too!!!!! Ugh 😖
Player #107789144
Player #107789144
BOO 🦋, OK!!! I’ll pretend I NEVER read that question 😖🤣
Wannabe Vulcan
Wannabe Vulcan
Chris, no "purpose"; they're a living species that evolved on Earth. You might as well ask what "purpose" humans serve.
cheena71
cheena71
Great! Now I'm itching! I'm also looking at the hair on my arms to see if I can see any microscopic critters! 😄🤪😩
arohanui
arohanui
BOO, good advice but now we know they're there, hard to forget!
POMPIS
POMPIS
As I write, one is staring at my phone. Creepy right?
J
J
Totally freaked out now! Can u imagine if they were bigger now that would be scary!!! 😬
Player #136155963
Player #136155963
Allan, or lice
Nikko
Nikko
Tina M., I think I'd rather not know this, ugh
Marcy
Marcy
accdg.to Some its kind of dandruff