Bug Identifier
Masked Hunter (nymph stage)
Community identification

Masked Hunter (nymph stage)

Reduvius personatus

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Reduviidae
Size
17 to 22 mm (adults), nymphs are smaller but appear larger due to debris.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Typically found indoors in dry areas, such as houses, barns, or sheds where dust accumulates.

Diet & Feeding

Predatory insect that feeds on small arthropods like bed bugs, carpet beetles, earwigs, and flies.

Behavior Patterns

The nymph covers its body with dust, sand, and lint for camouflage (masking). They are nocturnal hunters and move with a slow, jerky motion.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits humans by eating household pests like bed bugs. Risks include a painful (though not medically significant) bite if handled or provoked.