Masked Hunter Nymph (Camouflaged)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus (Nymph stage)
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs range from extremely small up to 12-15mm (approx 0.5 inches) before maturing; adults reach 17-22mm.
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in dusty areas like attics, basements, and behind furniture; outdoors in wooded areas and hollow trees.
Diet & Feeding
They are predators that feed on other small arthropods, including bed bugs, earwigs, silverfish, and woodlice.
Behavior Patterns
The nymphs have a sticky body surface and actively cover themselves with dust, sand, lint, and debris to create a camouflage 'mask' that hides them from both prey and predators.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They perform natural pest control by eating household pests like bed bugs. Risks: While not aggressive towards humans, they can inflict a very painful bite if handled or threatened.
Identified on: 2/10/2026