Bug Identifier
Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)
Community identification

Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bug)

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.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.