Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Hemiptera (True Bugs), Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs vary by instar but generally range from 5 to 13 mm; adults reach 17-22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in dusty corners, attics, and basements; outdoors in hollow trees or woodpiles.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator feeding on small arthropods like bed bugs, silverfish, ants, and spiders.
Behavior Patterns
The nymph has sticky hairs on its body and actively covers itself in dust, lint, and sand grains to camouflage itself from both prey and predators. This 'dust bunny' appearance is its most distinctive trait.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they eat household pests (like bed bugs). However, they can inflict a very painful bite if handled or threatened, similar to a bee sting, though it is not medically dangerous.
Identified on: 2/12/2026