Masked Hunter (Nymph)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found indoors in dry, dusty areas such as attics, basements, and behind furniture, as well as outdoors in woodpiles and hollow trees.

Diet & Feeding

Insects including bed bugs, flies, termites, and earwigs; they act as predators that pierce prey with a sharp rostrum.

Behavior Patterns

Nymphs practice camouflage by covering their sticky bodies with dust, lint, and debris to hide from predators and stalk prey. They are primarily nocturnal.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial as they hunt household pests like bed bugs. However, they can deliver a very painful bite to humans if handled or threatened, though they are not known to transmit diseases.

Identified on: 4/14/2026