Demodex folliculorumis a species offace mite.D. folliculorumis

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Demodex folliculorumis a species offace mite.D. folliculorumis one of theparasitic/commensalface mitesthat occur on people. These mites are found in humanhair follicles, normally found in greater numbers around the cheeks, nose, eyebrows, eyelashes, and forehead. They could also be found in other parts of the body such as arms, chest, and ears.

The entirelife cycleofD. folliculorumtakes place in the time span of 18-24 days on its host. During the day, they feed on dead skin cells within hair follicles. At night, they emerge onto the surface to mate and lay eggs in hair follicles. A female adult lays 20-24 eggs in a single hair follicle; as they grow they become tightly packed, and develop into larvae. The larva is then washed by a sebaceous flow, produced by the host's sebaceous glands, into the mouth of the hair follicle where it matures into an adult.It takes seven days for the larva to develop into an adult that is ready to reproduce sexually.

A 2014 study found that 100% of people over age 18 in the study had mite DNA on their faces, suggesting that the mites are universal inhabitants of adult humans.