Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs vary based on instar stage but typically range from 5 to 15 mm; adults can reach 17-22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in dusty corners, attics, and basements, as well as outdoors in wooded areas and hollow trees.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator that feeds on bed bugs, silverfish, spiders, flies, and other small arthropods.
Behavior Patterns
The nymphs secrete a sticky substance that causes dust and debris to adhere to their bodies, creating camouflage to ambush prey. They are nocturnal hunters.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they eat household pests like bed bugs and termites. However, they can inflict a painful bite if handled or threatened, similar to a bee sting, though it is not medically dangerous.
Identified on: 2/25/2026