Females also lay eggs in the burrows. On hatching, offspring crawl onto the skin and make new burrows. Mite faeces are absorbed into skin capillaries. The resulting hypersensitivity reaction causes generalised itch. Away from the human body, mites die within 72 hours.
Transmission is by skin to skin contact.
Sexual transmission and non-sexual transmission in family groups are common. Indirect transmission from the environment and fomites is possible. Scabies is ubiquitous. Cyclical epidemics may occur in institutions. This form of scabies is common in Aboriginal communities in remote and rural Queensland.