Masked Hunter Nymph (Dust Bunny Bug)
Scientific Name: Reduvius personatus
Order & Family: Hemiptera (True Bugs), Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Size: Nymphs vary based on instar stage but are typically 5–15 mm in length. Adults reach 17–22 mm.
Natural Habitat
Often found indoors in dusty corners, attics, basements, and under furniture. They seek out dry areas where other household arthropods live.
Diet & Feeding
Predatory; feeds on household pests including bed bugs, carpet beetles, silverfish, and earwigs.
Behavior Patterns
The nymphs secrete a sticky substance that causes dust, lint, and debris to adhere to their bodies, creating effective camouflage (looking like walking dust bunnies). They are active hunters that stalk their prey.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They are beneficial predators that reduce populations of household pests. Risks: If mishandled or threatened, they can inflict a very painful bite, though they are not aggressive toward humans and do not carry diseases.
Identified on: 2/20/2026