Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera (True Bugs), Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs differ in size as they grow, usually 4-12 mm; adults are approximately 17-22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in dust-prone areas like attics, basements, and under furniture, as well as outdoors in wooded areas.
Diet & Feeding
They are predators that feed on other arthropods, including bed bugs, earwigs, carpet beetles, and silverfish.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs secrete a sticky substance that causes dust, lint, and debris to adhere to their bodies, creating a 'camouflage' suit. They are nocturnal hunters that ambush their prey.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they eat household pests. However, they can inflict a very painful bite if handled or threatened, comparable to a bee sting. They do not transmit disease.
Identified on: 2/9/2026