For the first time in western New York, USA, a survey was conducted to determine the infestation rate of the 2 species of hair follicle mites in a selected human population. This is the first recorded study exploring epidemiologically the possible effects of host age, race, and sex on the prevalence of Demodex brevis and D. folliculorum. The sample consisted of 370 volunteers from 2 local hospitals and the State University College at Buffalo. Sebum was expressed from the nasolabial folds, mounted in Hoyer's medium, and examined under phase microscopy. Of 370 volunteers, 203 (54.9%) were positive for one or both species; 113 (30.5%) harbored only D. brevis, 39(10.5%) only D. folliculorum, and 51 (13.8%) both species. The total number with D. brevis was 164 (44.3%) and with D. folliculorum, 90 (24.3%). The youngest age group (0–25 years old) included 77 individuals, with 22 (28.6%) infested. There were 101 in the middle age group (26–50), with 53 (52.5%) positive; the oldest group (51–90) consisted of 192 persons, with 128 (66.7%) harboring one or both species. Of the 311 Caucasians tested, 176 (56.6%) were positive for one or both species; of the 59 Negro-Caucasians, 27 (45.8%) were infested. The effect of host sex on the distribution of hair follicle mites is unknown. The sex ratio of the sample (327♂, 43♀) does not reflect the demographics of western New York, and although many more males were infested (60.5%) than females (11.6%), the number of females was insufficient to reveal any trend.