
Community identification
Masked Hunter
Reduvius personatus
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Reduviidae
- Size
- 16 to 22 millimeters in length
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in dark, undisturbed areas such as basements, or outdoors under logs and bark.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator that feeds on other insects including bed bugs, spiders, and flies.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs use sticky secretions to cover themselves in dust and debris for camouflage. They are nocturnal hunters that use a piercing proboscis to subdue prey.
Risks & Benefits
They are beneficial pest controllers against household pests like bed bugs, but can inflict a painful defensive bite if handled improperly.