Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs are typically 5 to 13 mm (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long, depending on their developmental stage.
Natural Habitat
Found in undisturbed dusty corners of homes, attics, basements, and sheds, or outdoors in hollow trees and under eaves.
Diet & Feeding
They are generalist predators and eat other small arthropods found indoors, including bed bugs, silverfish, carpet beetles, and spiders.
Behavior Patterns
The nymphs have sticky bodies that accumulate dust, lint, and debris as camouflage (
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: It is a beneficial predator that helps control household pest populations like bed bugs. Risks: While generally harmless to humans, they can inflict a painful bite if mishandled or threatened, similar to a bee sting.
Identified on: 2/19/2026