Masked Hunter (Nymph)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae
Size: 15 mm to 22 mm (approx. 0.6 to 0.9 inches) as adults; nymphs are smaller.
Natural Habitat
Typically found indoors in dry spaces like basements and attics, or outdoors under logs and stones in woodlands and meadows.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly carnivorous; they prey on other small invertebrates including bed bugs, silverfish, and termites by piercing them with a proboscis.
Behavior Patterns
The nymph stage is known for its 'masking' behavior, where it covers its body with dust, lint, and debris for camouflage. They are primarily nocturnal and solitary hunters.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits humans by acting as natural pest control for indoor insects like bed bugs. Risks include a potentially painful (though rare) defensive bite if handled, which can cause local swelling.
Identified on: 1/5/2026