Masked Hunter (Nymph)

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in dry, dusty areas such as attics, basements, and corners, as well as outdoors in gardens and woodland undergrowth.

Diet & Feeding

Strictly carnivorous; they hunt other small arthropods including bed bugs, carpet beetles, lacewings, earwigs, and woodlice.

Behavior Patterns

The nymph is known for its unique camouflage behavior, where it uses sticky secretions to cover its body with dust, lint, and debris to hide from both prey and predators.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem and homeowners by acting as a natural pest control for bed bugs and beetles. However, if handled or threatened, they can deliver a very painful defensive bite similar to a bee sting, though they do not transmit diseases.

Identified on: 1/5/2026