Masked Hunter Nymph

Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus

Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera (True Bugs); Family: Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)

Size: Typically reaches 17-22 mm (approx. 0.7-0.9 inches) as adults; nymphs are smaller and vary as they grow through instars.

Natural Habitat

Often found indoors in homes, attics, or dusty corners; outdoors they inhabit dry locations with loose soil or debris.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous predator of other insects; feeds on bed bugs, earwigs, silverfish, and woodlice.

Behavior Patterns

Nymphs exhibit 'camouflaging behavior' by excreting a sticky substance that collects dust, lint, and debris, allowing them to blend perfectly into dusty environments. They are nocturnal hunters.

Risks & Benefits

Risk: Can deliver a painful bite if handled or threatened, similar in intensity to a bee sting. Benefit: Excellent natural pest control as they actively hunt unwanted household pests like bed bugs.

Identified on: 2/20/2026